1 week Ago By Kasra Moradi
Carlos Alcaraz’s agent was left fuming with the tennis sensation and scolded him over a perceived lack of respect. Albert Molina has been with the Spanish star every step of the way, having first discovered him at the tender age of 12. Since then, the Murcian prodigy has become one of the biggest names in the sport off the back of his US Open victory in 2022 .
Alcaraz became the youngest player ever to become world No. 1 aged 19 and has gone on to win three more majors already in his fledgling career. Now 21, he was forced to pull out of the Madrid Open - the home tournament he has won twice - because of muscle injuries last week.
And while his immense talent has never been in question, Alcaraz’s commitment and professionalism sometimes causes friction with his coaches and agent. One example which was shown in his recently released Netflix docuseries - entitled Carlos Alcaraz : My Way - where Molina reprimanded the youngster for arriving late for one of his obligations. "There are times when you can be a tad late but.
.. It’s annoying but today, mate, be on time," Molina told the tennis player inside a car as they headed to the commitment.
Molina then recalled while talking to the camera: "That day I got very angry with him, but not because of punctuality. It bothered me not because of being late. For me, it was a lack of respect towards other people and that's what I cannot tolerate with Carlos.
” Speaking to the tennis star, he continued: "It doesn't matter if you're number one in the world, nobody has to wait for you, Carlos.” After joking about what his agent would say if he finally arrives early, Alcaraz, while laughing, acknowledged his mistake to Molina: "I know I'm not in a position to say anything. I'm in a position to lower my head and take the hits.
And I know it. The good thing is that I know it.” Molina concluded: "In the end, we're talking about a lad with many responsibilities that he hasn't asked for, but the important thing is that he understands that what we say and do is for his own good.
He will have to sacrifice a lot to be the best tennis player in history, but he is already number 1 in the ranking as a good kid.” The Netflix series also showcases Alcaraz’s mental battles with stress and fatigue in tennis, with the Spaniard needing frequent breaks from the sport or else he feels “suffocated”. The documentary reveals how he cannot bring out his best tennis when he is not happy or relaxed mentally, something that occasionally sees him butt heads with his trainers.
His coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, at one point claims he must become a “slave” to the sport in order to achieve his dream of becoming “the greatest player of all time”. And, in the most damning line in the documentary, he expresses doubt over whether Alcaraz has the dedication required. “He has a different way of understanding work and sacrifice,” Ferrero said, comparing his player to 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic , also considered by many as the greatest player ever.
“It’s so different that it makes me question whether he can really be the best in history.”.
