'Carlos is the future - and he’s already here': Carlos Alcaraz opens up on pressure, passion, and the ‘ugly’ side of tennis fame

The mental demands of the tour are ever-present. "We’re trying to change the schedule a bit, seeing if they can remove more tournaments so we can have more rest time, more vacation time. It’s not easy, but we’re trying.".

Alcaraz fuels himself in his own way. "I’ll eat a hamburger before, during or after a tournament. And I always allow myself some dessert, some chocolate – that’s no problem for me. How do I celebrate? Maybe when I go home. My mother’s food is always the best. And I drink champagne and Coca-Cola, which I don’t do during tournaments… Without overdoing it, of course.” (He then turns to his manager:) "Without overdoing it."

Despite his millions of followers, Alcaraz has a complex relationship with social media. "I use social media a lot and it’s not a very good environment – not to say a horrible one… Nothing on there is real. People show a life that isn’t really theirs… There are a lot of people who can reach you with a simple comment and can hurt you. I think that there is no worse weapon than words."

What keeps him grounded? "Those are your real friends, because they were there when you were nobody and tennis was just a hobby… Being back home is what refills my energy tank."

He was also asked about him still living with his parents, where he said, "Yes. Not for much longer, but for now I’m still with my parents in the same house as always. Since I travel a lot, I don’t get to see my parents much, so when I’m at home I like to make the most of it.”

On Jannik Sinner: "This rivalry is coming better and better… it gives me the opportunity to give my 100 per cent in every practice… The level I have to maintain just to beat Jannik is really high."

While fans may crave friction, Alcaraz values mutual respect. "Trash-talking gets a lot of attention… That’s what sells. But although tennis is an individual sport, we are with the same players every week, day in and day out. Jannik and I… see each other a lot off of it. We talk, we train together sometimes… Off court, being good people and getting along is another matter. For me that is one of the virtues and values of sport."

Then there is his sneaker obsession: "I’m a complete sneaker fanatic. I love them. And there isn’t any space left at home. My mother tells me off because I come back from every tournament with more sneakers and she says, ‘No, don’t bring more, there’s nowhere to put them.’”

As for trophies? "There are trophies in my room and in the living room. We’re looking for more spaces to put them." But not all of them: "I’m not taking that one home," he jokes, pointing to the massive Queen’s Club trophy.

Away from the courts, Alcaraz has found a new hobby, golf. "I love playing golf and I played a few courses here in the UK," he said, grinning. "With the amount of rain you have, there should be a lot of great courses!".

He’s been teeing off with fellow tennis stars, though not always with the upper hand. "Rafa plays really well," he admitted. " Alex De Minaur plays too. I played Andy Murray the other day and he beat me. He’s spent a lot of time on the course practising and you can tell… I also played Casper Ruud and he beat me too.".

The losses haven’t dulled his competitive spirit. When asked if he’d seek tennis revenge on Ruud, Alcaraz didn’t hesitate: "Oh you bet." He added with a laugh, "The next time I play him, I’ll remember he beat me at golf — and I’ll hit the ball even harder.".

Overall, Carlos Alcaraz may already be a champion, a fashion icon, and a global role model at just 21, but it’s his grounding in family, perspective on pressure, and deep love for the game that truly define him.

"It’s what I chose, it’s what I love," he says, and that love still shines through, whether he is chasing trophies, teeing off in the rain, or sneaking a post-match dessert.

In an era hungry for drama, Alcaraz reminds us that greatness can come with joy, respect, and just the right amount of Coca-Cola.