Carlos Alcaraz's training on court 2 has long since ended, but the boy continues to sign balls and autographs on either side of the stands, which had no place for those who would have liked to observe closely the new idol of the Parisian public. It is a warm of care in Paris, something that celebrates Carlos, his grandfather, who had never enjoyed such a climate since he began to attend Roland Garros regularly more than 15 years ago. Because Carlos, like his son, former player, of the same name, and like his grandson, the star of the tournament, breathes tennis on all four sides, and travels from coast to coast of the enclosure to try to see as many matches as possible.

The man who will face Novak Djokovic on Friday in search of his second Grand Slam final made a light session on the court, breaking his habit during this edition of the tournament of parking the racket on rest days. He does work every day in the gym and with his physiotherapist, Juanjo Moreno, who accompanies him to all tournaments. After the three five-set matches he had to play last summer in New York, on the way to the US Open title, and the physical problems he dragged in the last part of the course, his team prefer to manage each of their energies with care, although in Paris the itinerary is proving much lighter at the moment.

Carlitos does not wear out with the playstation or in social networks, always well advised by Juan Carlos Ferrero, whose teachings do not stay in the merely tennis. He prefers to watch a movie with his mother, Virginia, or follow the tournament on television. Keep an eye on the evolution of Darwin Blanch, a 15-year-old junior with whom he usually makes gloves when he is at the Equelite academy in Villena, and examines his own rivals in detail.

With a cap and sometimes sunglasses he still manages to go unnoticed by a city in which he is already beginning to provoke fascination. Last year, in a restaurant in New York, he was able to verify his extraordinary popularity, when the fervor generated around him made it necessary the intervention of the personnel in charge of the security of the premises.

No ironclad routines

When he is not playing, he likes to take a walk around the city, never too long. Unlike Rafael Nadal and many tennis players, he does not have iron routines. He usually dines in different places, with priority for a Japanese restaurant and another local, L'Avenue, both close to his hotel, located near the Champs Elysées. In this last restaurant you enjoy a wider menu and you can eat pasta. A few days ago he visited the store that Nike has in that area of the French capital.

After being initiated in the habit by the advice of Juanjo Moreno, it has been a long time that, whenever he can afford it, he does not forgive the nap. The dureme wherever it catches, it does not need to be bed, Our Father and potty, as recommended by Camilo José Cela. Alcaraz is an easy sleeper and conquers Morpheus lying 30 or 40 minutes on the sofa.

Calm and eager to come to fruition on Sunday afternoon, when the final concludes, the two Carlos, father and grandfather, enjoy the exploits of the boy. The grandfather, draftsman, also accompanies him whenever he can and last year saw him win in Miami the first of his four Masters 1000. His brother Álvaro, José Ramón, a family friend, an uncle of his father, Antonio Martínez Cascales, a member of his technical team and former coach of Ferrero, and Albert Molina, his agent, complete, together with the people already mentioned, the entourage of Carlitos, who looks towards the place where the Spanish journalists are sitting, greets them and dedicates the best of his smiles when for any reason he crosses the press room.

In the morning, Ferrero attended the media to share his thoughts on the player he has led to the elite, two days before the crucial semifinal match against Djokovic. "It's grown very fast. He was always ready to win, even when contesting challengers and futures. He's ready to do great things in tennis. He has very big dreams of what he can do. And that's important. That he can win anyone and believe in himself."

The 2003 tournament champion and former world No. 1 also spoke about his identity and references. "The examples of Rafa, Roger and Novak are the best, to motivate and fight. But it is impossible to copy technically. Carlos has his own skills. His game is very natural."

  • tennis
  • Carlos Alcaraz
  • Rafa Nadal
  • Novak Djokovic

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