Alcaraz, in Etcheverry’s YouTube vlog: “There have been months in which I have played more golf than tennis”

Carlos Alcaraz He won his first title at the ATP 500 tournament in Tokyo since the wrist injury, which did not allow him to play between the Godó and the US Open, a four and a half month absence. His Argentine colleague in the middle of his Asian tour Tomás Martín Etcheverry premieres vlog on YouTube, with the Murcian as one of his first guests.

Alcaraz, 23 years old and world No. 3, shared a few moments with Etcheverry, 27 years old and No. 31, in the Tokyo locker room, an event where they coincided, as well as now at the Shanghai ATP Masters 1000.

A brief and relaxed conversation, more anecdotal than profound. Although with Alcaraz every minute is worth gold, due to his busy agenda and also his occurrences.

“The potato omelet, always without onion,” he stated in his first question. His favorite tournament, he said, was “outside of Spain, Indian Wells”, as it was also Rafa Nadal’s in his day, in which he also agrees Tomás Etcheverry. It is a paradise place for tennis players, from its villas to its golf courses.

“You have golf, being at home in peace. The tournament is the h… Lots of space.”

Golf, the great passion of Carlos Alcaraz, who has also suffered from a wrist injury. He had to park the clubs for a few months, the joint asked for absolute rest for a long time.

“I’m at handicap 11”, points out. “An animal,” says Etcheverry. Alcaraz explains it. “I’ve played a lot. There have been times when I’ve played more golf than tennis. There were weeks, and months, when I’ve played more golf than tennis,” says the Murcian, bursting into laughter. Its most mischievous part.

There is no golf when competing in Shanghaiclarify why. “There is a course next door but there is always a professional tournament, and I have never been able to play. In Indian Wells there are very good (courses), but the best one I have played on has been the Riviera Country Club, in Los Angeles.

More seriously, some advice for children who want to be tennis players. “You have gone deep. I always say that they dream big, that they are not afraid to say their dream. And that they pursue it. That they do not let themselves be influenced by what they may tell them, that they can do it, that they cannot do it. And that they go for it,” says Alcaraz. All with the condition that “above all, enjoy the journey.”

His philosophy of life. He has always dreamed big, he has never fallen short in forecasts, in publicizing his ambition. And he wants to smile, because if he doesn’t have a good time, his tennis suffers.

Hence, even during Grand Slam tournaments he has gone to play golf to relax. Always in his own way, a Carlos Alcaraz with more desire for tennis than ever after the injury scare. In his present, Shanghai, but the ATP Finals in Turin and the Final 8 of the Davis Cup in Bologna are not on his horizon. The fireworks of 2026.