Moyà, forceful following the Alcaraz documentary: "Rafa was not a slave to tennis"

Carlos Navarro | 5 May 2025 | 14.41

Nadal and Moyà at the last Davis Cup, their final event together. Source: Getty

Streaming ATP Rome MD live tennis

🎾 Erler/Miedler vs Krajicek/Mektic

Sign up with Bet365 here
Make your first deposit of at least €5
Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

The Carlos Alcaraz documentary, which premiered on Netflix just a couple of weeks ago, continues to stir up controversy and generate much discussion. The reason is clear: the words spoken by Carlitos and his team have opened a path that sparks a lot of debate, a path that is currently at a clear crossroads. Can one achieve what the best have achieved while indulging in the pleasures life offers to a 21-year-old? Is this a feasible way to make history in the world of tennis? The latest to attempt to answer these questions is none other than Carlos Moyà.

And few voices are more authoritative to debate than that of someone who experienced success up close during two stages, both when he was wielding the racket to touch glory and when he guided the successes of Rafael Nadal. The reflection on Nadal's mirror is constantly mentioned in the footage, and no one better than Carlos to truly detail whether Rafa was a "slave to tennis." An expression constantly uttered in the past Mutua Madrid Open, repeated in the Netflix film... an expression that Moyà is very clear does not correspond to the Balearic player.

"Rafa was not a slave to tennis". The statement carries significant weight and was made at an event documented by Relevo, a statement that aligns with small details about Nadal's life off-camera, debunking the notion that the manacorí was all work and no play. "I know he had his hobbies, I know he enjoyed his free time", points out Moyà, emphasizing that while Rafa wasn't someone "who went to many events, or Formula One races," for example, as Carlos does, he was someone who had "a lot of life" beyond tennis. As you know: documentaries and movies can be quite misleading with the image they project, but it's impossible to achieve the heights Rafa reached without finding the balance outside the court.

AN ERRONEOUS IMAGE OF ALCARAZ

Speaking of dismantling perceptions, Charly is clear: just like Rafa is much more than the calculated work to become one of the greatest in history, it is impossible to achieve what Carlos has achieved without the elements of consistency and sacrifice being present in significant proportions. "It's not possible to achieve what he has achieved without discipline and hard work," Moyá boldly states, aware that his current philosophy is valid, especially for the "short term," for a 21-year-old with a lifetime ahead to go through different stages and reach maturity much later. And if he doesn't make it?: "He's living in the moment, has already won four Slams, which we sometimes forget. He deserves it." Strong words that invite reflection from someone who knows a lot about this.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Moyà, contundente tras el documental de Alcaraz: "Rafa no fue un esclavo del tenis"