“When I was a kid, we didn’t have big luxuries. But the small things make the difference.” Carlos Alcaraz might have risen to stardom, but at heart, he is still a humble guy who loves playing tennis. Always with a smile on his face, he tries to entertain the crowd with his on-court skills rather than over-the-top antics. Turning pro in 2018, the Spaniard became the youngest ATP No.1 in the history of the sport, while adding four Grand Slam titles to his CV as well. Big feats at a young age can sometimes be distracting. But Alcaraz is surely built different. How does he manage to handle an unprecedented amount of popularity?

Alcaraz’s 2025 season is not going as expected so far. He looked in good touch at the Australian Open before facing 24-time Major winner Novak Djokovic in the QF stage. The Serbian crushed his hopes to become the youngest player to compete a Career Slam, beating him 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. However, the Spaniard didn’t take long to find his form. Last month at the ATP Rotterdam, the Spaniard clinched his first-ever indoor hard title after defeating Andrey Rublev. But he failed to extend this winning momentum. In the next event in Doha, he was ousted in the quarterfinal by Jiri Lehecka who beat him 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

Carlitos will be looking to woo the crowd at the Battle of Legends, a charity event, in Puerto Rico this weekend. Before that, he sat down for an interview with El Nuevo Dia. He was asked questions on various aspects of his career, especially the fame he attained at a young age. And he answered candidly. “The truth is that you do it naturally, you’re pulling forward. Your family and your people always help you by being behind you and leading you on the right path,” the 21-year-old said.

On a previous occasion, Alcaraz mentioned how he “came from a medium-class family where he had what was necessary. I was always happy with what I had,” reported Daily Mail in December 2024. “You also realize yourself, and you take it as naturally as possible,” he added. The most important thing, in Alcaraz’s opinion, is to “not change your personality, as you are, and that helps you take it in the best way.” Well these are truly inspiring words, especially coming from a young man who has remained unaffected by name and fame.

That being said, it’s time for the Spaniard to look ahead and find his momentum on the court as well. But what’s his next destination?

Carlos Alcaraz to compete at the 2025 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells

After appearing in Puerto Rico on Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz will look to set his target on Indian Wells. One can say it will be a return to his favorite event. How? For the uninitiated, the 21-year-old has an impressive track record at the BNP Paribas Open. In the last three seasons, he’s only gone from strength to strength here.

In 2022, the Spaniard reached the semifinals before losing out to his idol and former ATP pro Rafael Nadal. However, in the last two editions, he ended up clinching the title. While he beat Daniil Medvedev in the summit clash in 2023, with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-2, he replicated it last year. And guess who was his opponent? Well, it was Medvedev again who lost the final 6-7, 1-6 against Alcaraz.

After Novak Djokovic who did it in 2015 and 2016, Alcaraz became the first ATP player to win back-to-back Indian Wells titles. “I think this year it’s a little bit more special for me because before the tournament I was thinking about if I’m going to play my best or not,” he said, as reported by CNN in March 2024.

The victory was remarkable given the fact that he was suffering from an injury as well. “I was not feeling well with my ankle. Weeks before the tournament, I was hitting for 30 minutes with no movement. It was a lot of doubts for me, but really happy to be able to overcome the problems,” Carlitos further added.

After clinching his first indoor hard-court title in Rotterdam, Alcaraz will look to win his second ATP title in 2025. As of now, it’s not confirmed who will be his first-round opponent. Do you think the four-time Major winner will pull off a three-peat in Indian Wells?