Carlos Alcaraz’s Nike Deal: Spanish Phenom Usurps Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to Emerge as Tennis’ Biggest Name

“The Alcaraz Era is upon us.” Carlos Alcaraz’s meteoric rise to stardom is no longer just news; it’s a phenomenon that’s sweeping the tennis world. The 21-year-old Spanish sensation has recently etched his name in the books of tennis history both on-court and off of it. With his victory over Alexander Zverev at Roland Garros, the Spanish Tennis star became the youngest player to have won a grand slam on all three surfaces. As marketing partnerships were anticipated, his latest deal with Nike has left the tennis community with a dropped jaw. A prodigy at 21, he’s leaving legends Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in his dust!

According to a Friday report from Relevo, the new deal with the sportswear giant is estimated to pay him in the neighborhood of $15 to $20 million per year over the next decade. But what is more fascinating is the fact, that the company will also provide him with his own logo. This is a luxury that was previously given to only legends like Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. While the exact terms of the deal are not known yet, it is likely to extend till the mid-2030s. This deal, meanwhile, is also crucial because it is far more lucrative than what was offered to Rafa and Roger. 

The association of Nike with Rafa is immensely popular. The iconic raging bull logo on the tennis legend’s attire was a trademark of Nike itself. However, despite the company’s long association with the now-38-year-old, he was only paid $10 million a year, as of 2022. Besides, the personalized logo for Rafa was only given to him after he proved his mettle in the arena at the age of 27 in 2013. Roger Federer too, had a similar story to share.

Three years before the Swiss Maestro hung up his racquets, he broke his ties with Nike, after pairing up with Uniqlo. This was even criticized by the former Nike director who highlighted the difference that Federer received from Nike and Uniqlo. “I probably would have done the same thing if I were in the same boat. Who might have turned down a $30 million-a-year contract? But it should have never gotten to that point.” He was reportedly given a deal of  £7million($8.8 million) in 2018. The tennis great’s partnership with Nike came in 1994 but it took him 13 years to get a logo of his own in 2007, when he was 26.

Alcaraz who has previously worn Lotto apparel has been sponsored by Nike since 2019. His previous contract with Nike was set to expire in 2025. Earlier, Jannik Sinner had also received a similar deal from the company in 2022. Clocked in at $158 million total for 10 years, Sinner’s deal makes him the face of men’s tennis, alongside Alcaraz. Meanwhile, Alcaraz has continued to woo his well-wishers after his victory.

Rafael Nadal’s uncle is all praises for Carlos Alcaraz and his calmness

Carlos Alcaraz’s victory at the Roland Garros final was nothing short of spectacular. He made a comeback from 2 down to 1 to become the youngest player to win all three surfaces. However, Rafael Nadal’s uncle and tennis coach Toni Nadal has highlighted a significant factor that contributed to Carlitos’ win.

Writing for El Paris, Toni said that Alexander Zverev faced defeat because of his anger. Zverev too made a similar claim when he said that the fifth set of the final could have gone “the other way” following a dispute over a line call. For the unversed, the German had a break-back point in the decisive set at 1-2 and thought that Alcaraz hit a double fault. However, the umpire over-ruled and said that Alcaraz’s second serve was in, not out. Zverev’s claim was later substantiated by the Hawk-eye data as well.

However, Toni Nadal went on to praise Alcaraz and said that it was his calmness that fueled his comeback. “Carlos faced him in the fourth set after a hard-fought comeback without losing his calm, conviction and confidence in victory,” he wrote. “Something that only great champions can achieve. I offer my most sincere compliments to Alcaraz.” Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see if the youngster can continue his trajectory and clinch a medal in Olympics, where he is set to partner with Rafael Nadal in Paris.