The sun-soaked beaches of Ibiza, with their pulsating nightlife and azure waters, have been Carlos Alcaraz’s sanctuary following his monumental victory at the 2025 French Open. On June 8, the 22-year-old Spaniard etched his name deeper into tennis history by defending his Roland Garros title in an epic five-set battle against World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. The match, a five-hour-and-twenty-nine-minute marathon, saw Alcaraz claw back from two sets down, saving three championship points to claim a 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2) victory. It was a performance that left the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd roaring and cemented Alcaraz as the third-youngest man to win five Grand Slam titles, following legends Björn Borg and Rafael Nadal. But after five days of well-earned revelry on the Spanish party island, Alcaraz is ready to swap flip-flops for tennis shoes, setting his sights on the grass courts of London.
Alcaraz’s brief escape to Ibiza has become something of a tradition, a ritual of “disconnection” that he credits for recharging his spirit. “In Ibiza, I’m not going to lie to you, it’s mostly about partying and going out,” he admitted in his Netflix documentary, *Carlos Alcaraz: My Way*. “I went there to let loose. I don’t know if it’s right to say it that way, but I went out.” This candid confession reflects the young star’s approach to balancing the relentless demands of professional tennis with the joys of being a 22-year-old. Accompanied by friends, including Spanish footballer Sergio Reguilón, Alcaraz was spotted soaking up the island’s vibrant energy, a stark contrast to the red clay of Paris where he battled Sinner in what many have called one of the greatest French Open finals ever.
His coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, has cautiously endorsed these getaways, recognizing their value in keeping Alcaraz refreshed. “Yesterday I told him to have a good time because he deserved it, but to remember that he is a tennis player,” Ferrero shared in an interview. He emphasized the importance of quality over quantity in training, noting, “We don’t put in a lot of training volume. I prefer two hours of absolute quality over four hours with a bad attitude.” Ferrero’s guidance reflects an understanding that Alcaraz’s downtime, while unconventional for an elite athlete, fuels his explosive on-court performances. After all, similar trips to Ibiza in 2023 and 2024 preceded Alcaraz’s back-to-back Wimbledon titles, suggesting that a few days of music and beachside camaraderie might be his secret weapon.
Now, with his batteries recharged, Alcaraz is en route to London for the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club, set to begin on June 16, 2025. This ATP 500 event will be his only grass-court tournament before Wimbledon, where he aims to secure a third consecutive title, a feat achieved by icons like Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Alcaraz’s grass-court pedigree is formidable; since his 2021 debut, he boasts a 24-3 record on the surface, including a 2023 Queen’s Club title that propelled him to his first Wimbledon crown. “I can’t wait to get back on the grass at The Queen’s Club next summer,” he said in a statement. “Lifting the title two years ago is what gave me the belief to go on and win Wimbledon for the first time, so it always means a lot to compete there.”
The transition from clay to grass is no small feat, especially after the physical and mental toll of Roland Garros. Alcaraz’s aggressive baseline game, punctuated by blistering forehands and deft drop shots, will need to adapt to the faster, lower-bouncing surface. His 2024 Queen’s campaign ended abruptly with a second-round loss to Jack Draper, but he rebounded spectacularly to defend his Wimbledon title. This year, as the top seed at Queen’s, he faces a field hungry to challenge his dominance. Yet, Alcaraz’s resilience—evident in his French Open comeback—sets him apart. “I don’t know what I did,” he said after defeating Sinner, still in disbelief at his own heroics. “His strength is to keep believing until the last ball,” Ferrero added, recalling how Alcaraz, down 0-40 at 3-5 in the fourth set, rallied the crowd and turned the tide.
As Alcaraz prepares for the grass season, the tennis world watches eagerly. His rivalry with Sinner, now 8-4 in his favor, promises more thrilling chapters, while his quest for a Wimbledon three-peat places him among the sport’s all-time greats. From the beaches of Ibiza to the hallowed lawns of London, Alcaraz’s journey is a testament to his unique blend of talent, tenacity, and a zest for life that keeps him grounded even as he soars.
Leave a Reply