Terms and conditions of the Carlos Alcaraz experience: reread when necessary
On the biggest stage, when all seemed lost and the unbeaten streak in finals was wavering, Carlos Alcaraz emerged. And he won in his own way. Do not put doors on geniuses.
I must admit that I have always had an issue with Carlos Alcaraz. A problem that was magnified with the release of his documentary on Netflix. It garnered criticism, praise, exposed dynamics within his team, unveiled him (perhaps too much) to the eyes of the world, and posed a question that had possibly never been so openly and honestly raised: Can one be the greatest of all time without thinking about tennis 24 hours a day?
We analyzed his words over and over again at a time of extreme vulnerability: Carlitos had just suffered a staggering defeat in Miami, confirming what were perhaps his lowest hours since reaching the elite, playing matches that turned into cries for help: 'time out.' While the world debated Carlos's image at the worst possible moment, the problem resurfaced and lingered in my mind for several hours.
Where do I place my expectations regarding this young man? How do I not get excited about what I've seen and, at the same time, avoid disappointment with what I've also witnessed? How should I treat a phenomenon that exceeded all my expectations from watching him in Futures and Challengers, of which I am well aware of his potential? Am I a bad professional if I criticize him for questionable behavior on the court knowing that he has made history at 21 years old? Should I be tough on him for his talent or accept that he paces himself if he desires?
Doubts and more doubts. Questions and more questions. Some were clarified as the weeks went by. Monte Carlo, Rome. Roland Garros. Three match points against. The world stops, and so does my mind. I no longer doubt.
GENIUSES AND LIMITS
Carlos Alcaraz is a chosen one. It's not an exaggeration. It's hard not to go wrong when you witness the journey of a genius from the start. When I saw him lift the champion's trophy, alongside his family, I stopped punishing myself for being wrong so many times. We all make mistakes, we are human. He is too. I found a certain peace of mind, the same one he had in his mind during that 0-40.
My feelings started to align with the Carlos I saw on screen attending Ibiza parties. Call it results-driven: how easy it is to empathize in victory, to celebrate in triumph, and how difficult it is to rationalize in failure. However, I understood that what I had just witnessed was the complete Carlos Alcaraz experience. He had become desperate at the apparent lack of flaws in his opponent. He had insisted on overpowering him through dominance, head held high, total self-assurance. He wanted to win out of pride and not by strategy.
And when he was about to seal his defeat, everything became clear. It all became clear to me. Patience emerged. Also ecstasy. Variety. The tidal wave. The planets aligned, and in the super tiebreak, Carlos Alcaraz entered the Matrix. Imperfection, beauty, and strength. A reminder of what life itself is, or the life worth living, one where happiness and sadness have an intimate relationship that magnifies their respective intensities to the nth degree.
I stopped thinking about setting limits for Carlos Alcaraz, numerical expectations. Does he want to unwind in Ibiza or play golf for two months? Let him. Is he incapable of sustaining the Matrix throughout the four Grand Slams of the year, unable to keep up the pace until the ATP Finals? Fine. Does that mean we will miss out on a possible candidate for the greatest player in history along the way? I couldn't care less.
If that allows Carlos Alcaraz to be Carlos Alcaraz, I am willing to pay that price. If that means there's a guy willing to honor tennis, displaying the broadest array of skills on the circuit, with a smile on his face and the constant feeling of being about to jump off the couch for an impossible shot, the transaction will be beneficial. Because tennis is emotion, unpredictability, and charisma, and this young man signed the terms and conditions contract to be a genius... and geniuses should not be limited or fenced in; just a few hours of their inspiration will quench our thirst for entertainment. And mine, if Carlos has decided that this is his way, is more than satisfied. No more questions or doubts, Your Honor: let's live and enjoy his way, without pondering what might be or what was, and our present will be as fulfilling as the 5 hours and 26 minutes of yesterday's day.
Although we will falter, because we are human, and we will doubt and demand again. And there, I hope, I will come back to read these words and trust that the next show is near. Very close.
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