Remember, in 2023 when Carlos Alcaraz, stepped onto Arthur Ashe Stadium for his first-round match, and removed his warm-up jacket, revealing a toned physique that sent social media into a frenzy? Dressed in a new Nike outfit, the 20-year-old’s muscular build drew comparisons to Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal, leaving fans in awe. Similarly, in this year’s R1 matchup, while Carlitos turned up the heat with a sleeveless black top under 75 degrees in NYC, his opponent, Li Tu, was left jaw dropped.

In a lighthearted moment during an ESPN post-match interview, Li Tu expressed, “Look, I’m not going to lie, he came out and he’s in his jacket and I’m like, ‘OK,’” Tu recalled on the set between the venues at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center. “We go to the coin toss, and he took his jacket off, and I was like, ‘Dude, this guy is a specimen.’ From the coin toss, from the coin toss. I was like ‘This guy is a beast.’”

At the age of 21, Carlos Alcaraz has already become the youngest player to win both the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year. Now, before he grabs the opportunity to join an elite group, including Rafael Nadal and Rod Laver, as only the third player to win three Grand Slam titles in a single season, his toned-up body is acting as a “serious weaponry”. “I couldn’t stop looking at his shoulder definition and the veins. And the forehand says it, he has some serious weaponry. Hats off to him,” Tu concluded.

The 21-year-old Spaniard, who made a partnership with Nike in 2019, has signed a lucrative new contract extension with the brand, reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars annually. The deal, which includes the creation of Alcaraz’s own personal logo, was finalized before his recent French Open victory, making him the youngest player to win Grand Slams on all three surfaces in the Open Era. The contract is expected to last until the mid-2030s, and Alcaraz’s annual earnings from Nike could reach between $15 and $20 million. While Alcaraz celebrates his off-court successes, he doesn’t neglect his rigorous training regimen.

Speaking of his routine, the Indian Wells winner said, “I normally get up to train and make the most of the day. I don’t normally go to sleep very late, but I do like having a quick siesta to recover! A power nap is always beneficial.” The four-time grand slam champion further added, “It really depends where I am in the world (as I travel a lot). Sometimes I like to change it up, but wherever I am, I like to keep breakfast fairly light. Perhaps some fruit, toast, maybe some eggs…” However, Alcaraz’s disciplined training couldn’t shield him from a recent injury setback!

Here’s why Carlos Alcaraz had to stop his practice before the 2024 US Open

Following a disappointing Olympics defeat, Carlos Alcaraz set his sights on regaining momentum at the US Open, where he triumphed in 2022. However, his preparation was abruptly halted when he suffered an unexpected ankle twist during practice. Notably, this is the same right ankle injury that forced him to retire from the match in Rio in February, resulting in a month-long layoff. 

Undeterred, the 21-year-old champion demonstrated his resilience during a pre-tournament press conference. “I just stopped my practice just for precaution. I didn’t feel comfortable enough to keep practicing just in case if everything was going to be worse. But after a few hours, I am feeling good. So tomorrow I will try to practice again 100 per cent without thinking about it. I wasn’t worried at all for my US Open participation. Obviously, I was angry because I don’t want to stop the practice.”

The World No. 3 is now onto his next opponent, Botic van de Zandschulp, for a second-round matchup in Flushing Meadows. And as the tennis world continues to marvel at Alcaraz’s skills on the court, it’s clear that his physique is equally impressive.