Carlos Alcaraz’s 2024 season had everything: glory, grit, and celebration. Cameras followed the 21-year-old throughout the year, capturing the behind-the-scenes of one of tennis’s biggest rising stars. Now, Netflix has stitched those moments into a brand-new documentary titled Carlos Alcaraz: My Way. And what a way it’s been. In case anyone missed his jaw-dropping season, here’s the quick recap: Alcaraz won the French Open, successfully defended his Wimbledon title, and clinched a silver medal at the Olympics. That’s a legacy in progress. However, in the same documentary, he mentioned something more important than all of the success.
The docuseries, produced by Morena Films, was teased back in February with a few action stills, and fans have been eagerly waiting ever since. When it was first announced in March last year, Alcaraz said, “I am very happy for this experience with Morena Films and Netflix. People are going to get to watch everything you don’t see on a tennis court. I think it’s something very different. I hope you enjoy this series as much as I will.”
That promise delivers as we get a sneak peek into not only Carlos Alcaraz the tennis player, but also Carlos Alcaraz, the person. The young Spaniard is already breaking records, building rivalries, and giving fans déjà vu of an era that’s only just ended. Fans have often compared his feathery playstyle to Roger Federer, and his excellence on clay has some people arguing that he is carrying on the legacy of his compatriot Rafael Nadal. The comparison to Novak Djokovic has turned into a rivalry now, one that has headlined the new chapter of men’s tennis.
Alcaraz is clear that he wants to “sit at the table with the Big Three.” That said, he isn’t blinded by the spotlight. There’s a line in the series that lingers: “From what I’ve experienced, I’d choose happiness over massive success. Because happiness is already success.”
Carlos Alcaraz with a beautiful quote from his Netflix Documentary:
“I want to sit at the table with the Big Three.. but from what I’ve experienced, I’d choose happiness over massive success.”
“Because happiness is already success.”
(via @Netflix) pic.twitter.com/d4O8bQGCcH
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 23, 2025
It’s not the first time he’s said it either. In a previous interview with GQ España, he echoed a similar sentiment and said, “I’m not obsessed with being the best in the world. I was number one a few years ago, and I was happy. Now I’m number three, and I’m just as happy – enjoying the journey, the sport, and life.”
That joy, it seems, is sometimes actually a secret recipe of his success.
Carlos Alcaraz reveals partying to be the secret to his Wimbledon titles
Yes, partying—believe it or not—was part of Carlos Alcaraz’s game plan. In the documentary, the Spaniard reveals his secret weapon for his first Wimbledon title in 2023 and his title defense in 2024: blowing off steam in Ibiza. “I wanted to go there basically to just get wasted,” he says, referring to the trip after losing to Djokovic in the 2023 French Open semifinals. Cramped and overwhelmed, he needed an escape. His agent, Albert Molina, advised against it. Alcaraz went anyway.
And then, he won Wimbledon. “When I got back, of course, I won Queen’s and Wimbledon,” he says. “I’m not saying partying helped me win, but taking that time off was good for me.” He repeated the trip before the 2024 grass season, too.
But now, as he enters the Madrid Masters, the road looks a little less certain. Alcaraz is the second seed and was hoping for a strong run on home soil, having won the tournament in both 2022 and 2023. However, an injury he picked up during the Barcelona Open final seems to be lingering. He’s currently waiting on test results to decide if he’ll compete.
With a season like this, Alcaraz has shown that greatness isn’t always scripted. Sometimes it takes a loss, a party, a comeback, and a few truths about happiness to build a champion. Can Carlos Alcaraz keep winning his way?
The post “Happiness Over Massive Success” – Carlos Alcaraz Shares Sincere Wish for Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic While Chasing Greatness appeared first on EssentiallySports.