More than his astonishing shots and his records at 22, what impresses Roberto Bautista Agut most about Carlos Alcaraz is his personality.
“I call Carlitos a ‘being of light’. He has incredible energy, and in any field or discipline he had chosen, he would have been a phenomenon. We are lucky to have him in tennis, lucky that he is Spanish. He’s a great kid who radiates positive energy to the people around him,” Bautista told CLAY in an interview.
In a conversation that took place during the Copa Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic, the 38-year-old admitted he admires the maturity Alcaraz has shown on court following his split with Juan Carlos Ferrero: “He’s probably dealing with it internally, but a tennis player knows very well how to handle the day-to-day challenges. He’s showing great maturity and that he can keep winning many tournaments.”
The Spaniard announced that he will retire from professional tennis at the end of 2026. At nearly 40, he will be able to spend more time with his family and his horses, his other passion.
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The 2019 Davis Cup champion told CLAY that he finds it difficult to see the world No. 2 playing for Spain in the tie against Chile in September. If captain David Ferrer were to call him up for one last appearance before retirement, he would most likely say yes.
Interview with Roberto Bautista Agut
– A player recently told me that travelling with his children reduces his sleep a lot. You travel to some events with your family. How do you handle it? Is it a sacrifice or is it all positive?
– The truth is that children require a lot of attention, but fortunately my wife is there supporting everything, and I can focus more on the tournament. There are events like the one in the Dominican Republic where the organisation gives me a separate room so I can rest properly.
– How do you compare the physical recovery of a tennis player at 23 with what you experience at 38?
– The body definitely recovers much better at 23. But like everything in life, experience also adds up: you get to know yourself much better, you know what recovery works best, how to take care of yourself, how to feel better. And that also helps you perform at the highest level at 38.
– One of your comments about Alcaraz’s lifestyle caused some controversy last year. “I don’t think Carlos will win Grand Slams going to bed at 7 a.m.,” you said in Madrid, referring to his occasional nightlife. Did you ever speak about it with him?
– My comments were taken a bit out of context. I said I considered him a very intelligent player and that it was clear he would mature and understand what he needs to do to win Grand Slams. And that’s exactly what he’s doing. Being No. 1 doesn’t come for free — it requires work, dedication, effort and discipline. And I think Carlos, at 22, already knows very well what he has to do. He’s also a player who needs to disconnect sometimes, like everyone else, each in their own way.
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– What is your relationship like with him?
– I call Carlitos a “being of light”. He has incredible energy, and in any field or discipline he had chosen, he would have been a phenomenon. We are lucky to have him in tennis, lucky that he is Spanish. He’s a great kid who radiates positive energy to those around him. And that’s a blessing for our sport.
– What do you think about what he achieved in Australia — becoming the youngest player in history to win all four Grand Slams at least once?
– It was incredible. And then he went on one of the best runs of his career. At 22, his numbers are astonishing. He’s a player who will be at the top for many years. I’ve been his teammate in Davis Cup and I love watching him play, I love being around him because, as I said, he’s a great guy.
– His split with Juan Carlos Ferrero had a big media impact. Then he went to Melbourne and won the title, and followed it up with success in Doha. What do you make of his emotional control?
– To achieve the results and runs he has had this season, you need a lot of composure on court and a lot of maturity. He’s probably dealing with things internally, but a tennis player knows how to face daily challenges, because there are always challenges. And I think he is showing the maturity needed to keep winning many events.
– If David Ferrer calls you up for Davis Cup in September, will you travel to Chile?
– I think so.
– And do you see it as possible for Alcaraz to play that tie, given the calendar? He said in Australia that his main goal was to win the competition for Spain, but this tie comes after the US Open and before the Laver Cup.
– I think it will be difficult for Carlos to be there. It will be a tough tie against a very strong team like Chile, with Jarry, Garín, Tabilo, Barrios… a great team. Spain will have to be very well prepared if they want to compete.
– What does the Davis Cup mean to you? You were a key part of Spain’s last title in 2019.
– For me, the Davis Cup is a very special competition. It’s something I dreamed of since I was a child. My decision to play tennis came from watching the Davis Cup on TV when I was five or six years old. I always enjoy playing it. Whenever I’ve been available, I’ve gone. It’s a competition that puts you through very difficult moments, but then helps you enormously on an individual and professional level.
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