AS sporting sensations go, few have made such an instant impact as Carlos Alcaraz.
The Spaniard, 20, is the successor to Rafa Nadal, has already occupied No1 on the ATP tour, and will be a serious threat to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon.
Carlos Alcaraz has enjoyed a meteoric rise
Last September, Alcaraz won his first Grand Slam at Flushing MeadowsGetty
Calvin Klein signed up Alcaraz to model underwear
Alcaraz has warmed up for Wimbledon by winning the Queens Club tennis tournamentRex
Such was the expectation on the young boy from Murcia’s shoulders, he had a sponsor by the age of 10.
He has since become the face of Rolex, featured on a cover photoshoot for Vanity Fair, and posed in underwear for Calvin Klein.
Last September, he became a Grand Slam winner when he landed the US Open.
While, he is coming into Wimbledon in red-hot form after lifting the Queen’s Club Championships last weekend.
Keeping his feet firmly on the ground is his teenage sweetheart, Maria Gonzalez Gimenez.
Blessed with talent
Born to parents Carlos and Virginia, Alcaraz began playing tennis at the Real Sociedad Club de Campo de Murcia, where his father was the tennis academy director at the age of 4.
Tennis coach Kiko Navarro caught a glimpse of the sensation, before he began coaching him.
“He began to play with his dad, and one day [his father] asked me to watch him. This kid, at four, five years old, was spectacular,” he told The Guardian.
“I knew from very young that he was incredible.
“I’m not going to say that I was thinking he was going to be world No 1 but I knew that I had a really good and different player on my hands.”
His love of tennis came from dad, Carlos Snr who was a fine player and one of the top 40 tennis players in Spain in his time.
But, he didn’t have the financial muscle to pursue a career as a professional.
Instead, he became a coach and then an administrator in tennis and padel.
The buzz about Alcaraz began when he was just 16.
He made his ATP main-draw debut at the Rio Open after receiving a wildcard for the singles main draw.
He would lose in the second round to Federico Coria, but people took notice.
A year later he became the youngest ever person to compete in the Australian Open after he qualified for the main draw.
Then by defeating Adrian Mannarino at the Madrid Open he shattered Nadal’s 2004 record of being the youngest winner in the competition.
Alcaraz is seen as the successor to Rafa Nadal’s crown
Alcaraz in action at last year’s US Open
His success at last year’s US Open propelled him to No1 in the world, the youngest player to ever occupy the spot.
After his success at Flushing Meadows, Alcaraz wrote: “I never thought I would achieve this kind of things at 19.
“It all happened so fast. It’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid, since I started playing tennis. Lifting this trophy it’s amazing to me.”
Sponsored at 10
By the age of 10, sponsors were already trying to get their hands on Alcaraz.
French firm Babolat got him to use their rackets in 2013.
Two years later, Nike began their association with him – signing Alcaraz to a professional deal worth £1million.
Rolex also bought into the hype last year and introduced the prodigy as brand ambassador.
At 19, he’s the youngest athlete they have ever backed.
BMW provide the company car and a heap of cash.
Babolat began sponsoring Alcaraz when he was just 10
BMW provide Alcaraz with a company car
Alcaraz featured in Calvin Klein’s Calvins or Nothing campaign for Spring 2023
Underwear is provided by Calvin Klein, who he stripped down for their Calvins or Nothing campaign for Spring 2023.
Approximately, £4million of his £8.6million earning last year were because of his commercial activities.
Romance
Despite devoting himself to tennis, Alcaraz has had time to find love.
Murcia beauty Maria Gonzalez Gimenez, believed to be 23, is the object of his affections.
Maria also has the same sporting interest as her alleged lover as she plays for Murcia Club de Tenis – a tennis club located in Spain.
Any details are kept close to their chests though, with the pair refusing to share too much about one another on social media.
However, Tennis Tonic shared a screenshot of an Instagram story posted on Alcaraz’ account where the two shared an intimate moment.
Similar to her love life, Maria has decided to keep her occupation out of the limelight.
But she is beginning to build up a presence on Instagram and has 12,000 followers.
Maria Gonzalez Gimenez, 23, is Alcaraz’s rumoured girlfriendhttps://www.instagram.com/mariaaagimenezz/?hl=en
Maria keeps their romance private
A keen tennis player, Maria is from Murcia, Spain
She is as happy on the tennis court as she is in a bikini on the beach.
And she will have even more to cheer, should her beau become the darling of Centre Court at SW19.