Carlos Alcaraz, widely regarded as one of tennis’ brightest rising stars, had just relinquished his top spot at the Barcelona Open on April 20, 2025. Merely three days later, Netflix debuted a Spanish documentary miniseries that captures the highs and lows of his 2024 season. The four-time Grand Slam winner had a remarkable year, securing silver at the Paris Olympics and clinching titles at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
However, as the season drew to a close, Carlos Alcaraz and his teammates witnessed multiple setbacks for Spain at the Davis Cup Finals. The event also marked the end of an era with Rafael Nadal making his final professional appearance. Nadal, who had been a lifelong source of inspiration for Alcaraz, was honored in a heartfelt moment. In his Netflix docuseries, the 21-year-old opened up emotionally about Nadal’s influence on his life, saying:
**The person who motivated me to pursue a career in professional tennis has now retired. I’ve asked him countless questions and learned so much from him. I’ve been lucky enough to observe, take mental notes, and apply those lessons to my own journey. But honestly, I’d give all of that up in a heartbeat for the privilege I’ve had of speaking with him one-on-one. He treated me like a true friend.” (Episode 3, starting at 23:28)
Carlos Alcaraz broke into the top 10 following his triumph at the 2022 Barcelona Open, making him the youngest teenager to win the title since Nadal in 2005. That same year, the 21-year-old defeated the tennis legend at the Madrid Open, becoming the only player to beat Nadal on clay.
Alcaraz had a standout performance at the Monte-Carlo Masters, where he easily defeated Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets. However, he suffered an injury during the Barcelona Open finals and lost the title to Holger Rune. After experiencing pain in his right abductor muscle, the Spaniard had an MRI and later shared optimistic updates regarding his participation in the Madrid Open.
