Carlos Alcaraz Reveals Best Piece of Advice His Idol Rafael Nadal Gave Him

Carlos Alcaraz is chasing his fourth grass-court title at the Queen's Club Championships, which he won for the first time in 2023.

Carlos Alcaraz Reveals Best Piece of Advice His Idol Rafael Nadal Gave Him

Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Carlos Alcaraz is in London, participating at the Queen’s Club Championships where he went past Adam Walton and Jaume Munar to book a spot in the quarterfinals. During his campaign, Alcaraz revealed the best advice he has received from his idol Rafael Nadal.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion hung up his racket at the Davis Cup last year after Spain’s defeat to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. Before that tournament, Alcaraz and Nadal played doubles at the Paris Olympics and were defeated in the quarterfinals.

Before the clay swing, Alcaraz scripted history at the French Open after his five-hour 29-minute battle against World No.1 Jannik Sinner. The 22-year-old became the third youngest man after Bjorn Borg and Nadal to clinch five Grand Slam titles.

Nadal had lifted his fifth Major at the age of 22 years, one month, and three days, and Alcaraz too claimed his fifth Major at the exact same age. Many from the tennis community are convinced that Alcaraz is destined for greatness given that he is achieving incredible results at a young age.

The two Spaniards, who met thrice- with the retired player winning two of those matches- share a good relationship. So when GQ asked the youngster to reveal the best ever advice he has received from the tennis legend, he said:

That I don’t have to see tennis as an obligation. That I really want to go for practice, that I really want to be better, not that I have to.

Alcaraz, in his Netflix documentary, Carlos Alcaraz: My Way, stated a similar thing while reflecting on his Ibiza vacation in 2023, just before the grass swing. He said didn’t want to be a slave to tennis, criticizing the hectic 11-month calendar.

Carlos Alcaraz recalls his match against Arthur Rinderknech at the Queen’s

Carlos Alcaraz, at the Queen’s, will next face Arthur Rinderknech, whom he will meet for the third time in his career. The five-time Grand Slam champion had won their last two matches, including their first-round match here in 2023. Before setting up the clash with Alcaraz, the Frenchman knocked out two Americans, Ben Shelton and Reilly Opelka, after his qualifying rounds.

Carlos Alcaraz Monte Carlo Masters 2025
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via Instagram/Carlos Alcaraz)

I remember he was my first opponent in 2023 on the grass-court tour. It was extremely tough. He could have beaten me. I remember it was very even. That victory helped me in the following matches. I’ve always said, that the more time you spend on the court, especially on grass, the better, because that way you gain more experience to adapt to this surface.

Carlos Alcaraz said at the press conference

Alcaraz came from a set down to win that match with a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(3) scoreline. He then reached the final and beat Alex de Minaur to win his career’s first grass-court title.

Later, he upset 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in an epic Wimbledon final. Last year, Britain’s Jack Draper knocked him out in the second round at Queen’s but Alcaraz was successful in defending his Wimbledon crown by breezing past Djokovic to complete the Channel Slam.

Carlos Alcaraz is chasing his fifth title of the season in London

Alcaraz arrived in London after successful campaigns on the clay swing. Except for the Barcelona Open final (lost to Holger Rune), Alcaraz won every tournament he played on the surface, including the French Open final against Sinner.

Carlos Alcaraz (6)
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Tennis Panorama News)

Apart from defending his Roland Garros title, Alcaraz became champion for the first time in Monte Carlo (beat Lorenzo Musetti) and Rome (beat Sinner). In February, he clinched his career’s first indoor hard-court title at the Rotterdam Open.

Also read: Carlos Alcaraz Wants to ‘Kill’ Novak Djokovic Because of ‘This’ Reason