Rising Star Carlos Alcaraz Praised for Joyful On-Court Demeanor

Dominic Thiem believes Alcaraz's relaxed and happy attitude could be the key to surpassing Novak Djokovic's Grand Slam record.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:42pm

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A dynamic, colorful painting depicting the energetic movements and expressions of a tennis player, conveying the raw emotion and joy of the sport.Alcaraz's infectious positivity and ability to revel in his success could propel him to even greater heights in the sport.Today in Miami

Tennis star Carlos Alcaraz has already drawn comparisons to legends like Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, and his recent performances have impressed fellow pro Dominic Thiem. Thiem highlighted Alcaraz's unique ability to maintain a relaxed and joyful demeanor on the court, even during his biggest matches, as a potential advantage that could help him eclipse Novak Djokovic's Grand Slam title record.

Why it matters

Alcaraz's infectious positivity and ability to enjoy the game at the highest level is a rare quality among tennis' current elite players. If he can sustain this mindset, Thiem believes it could give Alcaraz an edge over his rivals and propel him to even greater success.

The details

Despite a recent loss to Jannik Sinner and a wrist injury that forced him to withdraw from the Barcelona Open, the 19-year-old Alcaraz has already achieved a Career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open. Thiem, the 2020 US Open champion, praised Alcaraz's unique demeanor, noting that past greats like Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic were rarely as visibly joyful on the court. Thiem believes Alcaraz's ability to 'stay a bit of a kid' and truly revel in his success could be the key to him surpassing Djokovic's record of 24 Grand Slam titles.

  • Alcaraz lost to Jannik Sinner in the Monte Carlo Masters final last week.
  • Alcaraz had to withdraw from the Barcelona Open after his opening-round win due to a wrist issue.
  • Alcaraz finished his Career Grand Slam with a win at the Australian Open earlier this year.

The players

Carlos Alcaraz

A 19-year-old Spanish tennis player who is currently ranked number two in the ATP rankings and is considered one of the rising stars of the sport.

Dominic Thiem

An Austrian professional tennis player who won the 2020 US Open and has praised Alcaraz's unique on-court demeanor and potential to surpass Novak Djokovic's Grand Slam record.

Novak Djokovic

A Serbian professional tennis player who holds the record for most Grand Slam titles with 24.

Rafael Nadal

A Spanish professional tennis player who is considered one of the all-time greats of the sport, along with Roger Federer.

Roger Federer

A Swiss professional tennis player who is considered one of the all-time greats of the sport, along with Rafael Nadal.

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What they’re saying

“You can see with him that he enjoys being on the court and he has that smile. When he plays that drop shot when even the fastest opponent cannot make it, he just smiles at his box and enjoys the shot that he made.”

— Dominic Thiem, 2020 US Open champion

“If he can keep that then I think it's a combination where probably almost nobody can beat him if he can stay a bit of a kid. But with the ability of how he can play, the combination of those two is unbeatable.”

— Dominic Thiem, 2020 US Open champion

What’s next

Alcaraz will look to continue his strong play and maintain his positive attitude as he aims to surpass Djokovic's Grand Slam record in the coming years.

The takeaway

Alcaraz's unique ability to balance elite-level performance with a genuine joy and enthusiasm for the game sets him apart from past tennis greats and could be the key to unlocking even greater success in the future.