Landaluce explains how he wants to resemble Alcaraz

Fernando Murciego | 26 Sep 2024 | 20.18

Martín Landaluce Wants to Resemble Carlos Alcaraz. Source: Getty

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People are a bit nervous about Martín Landaluce, although the Spanish tennis player is making remarkable progress on the professional circuit. Of course, he is not moving at the speed of the chosen few, as we already knew, but that doesn't take away from highlighting the leap he has made in recent months. He started the year at #449, and before the end of September, he is already at #240, so he hasn't been sitting still. At 18 years old, the young man from Madrid is taking steps forward, always looking up to keep learning and striving to be a little better each day. And who can a teenager born in our country look up to? You can imagine.

In an exclusive chat with ATP, Landaluce points to a name that is always on his mind: Carlos Alcaraz. Just two seasons ago, we saw them sharing the stage: while one conquered the US Open Junior, the other did it in the professional category, an unforgettable date that will keep them linked forever. Although the age gap is only three years, just listen to Martín talk about the young man from Murcia to recognize the admiration he feels for him, pointing to him as a close figure even though they are currently on very different levels. Here's an interesting anecdote about a conversation they had after what happened in Flushing Meadows.

“I remember that after all that frenzy, I asked him how he was able to handle a million followers on social media, how he could endure an entire country on top of you watching, telling you that you have to win this or you have to reach a certain ranking. It seems like a very complex mission to me, although he was always very kind to me, I saw him handle it very naturally. That's being a very special person, so I try to be like him in that aspect, I think it's a very important issue,” confesses the former world junior No. 1.

BETWEEN ALCARAZ AND NADAL

But Landaluce's experiences did not end there. Just a few months later, the Rafa Nadal Academy became his second home, a place for preseason training, gathering his coaches, sharing the court with the best, and, of course, meeting Rafa Nadal in person and all that entails. Specifically, what it entails is a unique experience where he can firsthand absorb the information, experience, and habits of the greatest athlete in our history. He has even had the opportunity to play with him occasionally, although he prefers to keep to himself what the final result was.

“This has undoubtedly been one of the best things I could experience in my career; both players are great role models for me,” says Martín about his relationship with Alcaraz and Nadal. “I have spent my whole life observing Rafa, trying to be like him, and suddenly Carlos arrives. Both are great individuals; I loved playing with them when I had the chance, so I try to practice with both whenever I can, as well as ask them questions. Whenever I cross paths with them, it's a very positive experience,” he joyfully summarizes.

We will see what the end of the season has in store for Landaluce, who is fighting to break into the top 200 in the world rankings, seeking a place on the world ranking that will allow him to start the year playing his first Grand Slam qualifying round. For those who still don't know him, even though we already interviewed him on this website, here is one of his mottos: “I leave nothing off the court; I love being brave when I play, especially in crucial moments”.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Landaluce explica en qué quiere parecerse a Alcaraz