Alcaraz defends the South American clay court tour: "It is one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever had"

Carlos Navarro | 20 Mar 2026 | 01.43

Alcaraz defended the essence of the South American clay court tour. Source: Getty

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Carlos Alcaraz is already at the Miami Open 2026 eager to make a strong impression. The Murcian already knows his opponent in his debut: none other than Joao Fonseca, in a match that promises to be absolutely sensational, a clash of deadly forehands and an opportunity to solidify his status against what might be one of the contenders to watch for in the future. However, there is a factor that will play heavily in favor of the Brazilian: the support of the crowd and Brazilian fans.

If there is a major tournament on the circuit where the Latin American fans make their presence felt, it is Miami. There is a burst of color every time a member of that region steps onto the court. Joao is a crowd favorite who has even led James Blake, the tournament director, to always schedule him on the Central Court. Nobody is more aware of the potential and passion for this sport among the Latin American audience than Carlos Alcaraz, who experienced it firsthand during several seasons when he was a regular on the South American clay court swing.

Champion in Rio (his first ATP 500 title back in 2022) and also in Buenos Aires (a title he captured multiple times), Carlitos' presence brought special attention to two tournaments that now seem to be fighting to maintain their status on the calendar. Amid rumors of restructuring and even a possible surface change, with news of the potential purchase of ATP and the Saudi sovereign fund licenses in order to host the next Masters 1000 in Arabia, the future of the tour hangs by a thread... and few better ambassadors than Alcaraz to showcase its richness and necessity to the world.

How does Alcaraz see the future of the South American clay court swing? This is what he said in the lead-up to the Miami Open 2026

When asked by our friends at Todo Sobre Tenis about the viability and future of the tour, Carlos paused to reflect on his experience in South America, highlighting the special vibe of the fans and confirming that what he lived in places like Rio or Buenos Aires holds a special place in his heart. "The South American swing is beautiful, although very, very tough, due to the schedule, the climate, everything... but it's beautiful.

People are so engaged with tennis, the fans are incredible, they showed me so much support, which is fantastic. We need to see if it will continue: personally, it's a tour I would like to experience again. It's going through a tough time, yes. I've heard several players, especially South Americans, commenting that they shouldn't touch it and shouldn't change surfaces. When I went there, I loved it. To those players who haven't been, I would say that at least once in their life they should experience that journey firsthand. The truth is, it's one of the most beautiful experiences I've had when it comes to tours", Carlitos stated with a big smile. Perhaps his return now seems difficult, due to his mid-term commitment to the Rotterdam tournament, but even so, the Murcian had no doubts in defending the tournaments on the other side of the globe and calling for the preservation of their essence. Do you agree with him?

Carlos Alcaraz on TST about the South American swing: "It's a beautiful tour although it's very, very tough, to tell you the truth, due to the schedule, the climate, everything, but it's beautiful. People get involved a lot in tennis, the fans there are incredible. I received a lot of support, which... pic.twitter.com/NmT0slIuEf
— Todo Sobre Tenis (@Tsobretenis) March 19, 2026