Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old Spanish tennis sensation, has set the clay courts ablaze in 2025, storming through Monte Carlo and Barcelona with an unblemished 8-0 record. Fresh off his maiden Monte Carlo Masters title and a commanding run to the Barcelona Open semifinals, the World No. 2 is redefining dominance on the red dirt. Amid this blistering form, tennis legend Jimmy Connors, an eight-time Grand Slam champion, has shared a pearl of wisdom that could be the blueprint for Alcaraz’s continued reign. Speaking on his Advantage Connors podcast, Connors pinpointed the “key” to greatness: relentless grinding, even when the game feels off. As Alcaraz prepares to face Arthur Fils in a blockbuster Barcelona semifinal on April 19, 2025, Connors’ advice resonates as a guiding light for the young star’s ascent.
Alcaraz’s clay-court campaign has been a masterclass in resilience. In Monte Carlo, he battled back from a set down in three of his five matches, including a thrilling 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 quarterfinal victory over Fils. His final against Lorenzo Musetti, a 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 rout, showcased his ability to adapt and overpower, even as Musetti grappled with a leg injury. “This is not the way I want to win a match. I really feel sorry for him,” Alcaraz said, his sportsmanship shining through. In Barcelona, he’s been untouchable, dispatching Ethan Quinn, Laslo Djere, and Alex de Minaur in straight sets to extend his tournament win streak to 13 matches. “I started quite badly with the serve, I was struggling a little bit mentally with it,” he admitted after the de Minaur win, 7-5, 6-3, before adding, “I think I improved a lot.” His 82-18 career clay record, including a 2024 French Open title, places him among the surface’s all-time greats, surpassing even Novak Djokovic’s win percentage at the 100-match mark.
Connors, a former World No. 1 known for his gritty tenacity, sees Alcaraz’s work ethic as his defining edge. “Keep grinding, because when you keep grinding, the better player, not always, but the majority of the time, is going to come out on top,” Connors urged, emphasizing the ability to turn subpar performances into victories. “That is the key. You can’t play 100% every time. Turning a game where you don’t feel right, or your game is not in order, or you are a little lethargic to still come out and win—that is what makes a great player in my opinion.” This advice strikes at the heart of Alcaraz’s Monte Carlo triumph, where he navigated early struggles to claim his sixth Masters 1000 title. “I simply missed clay,” he said, signing “I missed clay” on a TV camera after defeating Francisco Cerundolo, a nod to his deep affinity for the surface where he won his first ATP title in Umag at 18.
The Barcelona Open, where Alcaraz is chasing a third crown after victories in 2022 and 2023, is a proving ground for Connors’ philosophy. Facing Fils again, Alcaraz knows the challenge ahead. Their Monte Carlo clash, dubbed one of 2025’s best matches, saw Fils lead 6-4, 5-5, 40-0 before Alcaraz’s relentless fightback. “His level is high right now and he puts a lot of pressure on his opponents,” Alcaraz said of Fils, acknowledging the Frenchman’s aggressive forehand and fearless approach. Connors’ call to “keep grinding” aligns with Alcaraz’s knack for finding solutions, whether through his signature drop shots—“It’s a weapon that I use a lot,” he noted—or his explosive forehand, honed under new coach Samuel Lopez alongside Juan Carlos Ferrero.
As Alcaraz eyes the Madrid and Rome WTA 1000 events and a French Open title defense, Connors’ words serve as both a roadmap and a warning to rivals. With four Grand Slams, 18 ATP titles, and a career Surface Slam at 21, Alcaraz is already a titan. Yet, it’s his ability to grind through adversity, as Connors champions, that could elevate him to the pantheon of all-time greats, rivaling even Rafael Nadal’s clay-court legacy. For now, Barcelona awaits, and with Connors’ wisdom in his arsenal, Alcaraz’s clay crusade shows no signs of slowing.