Carlos Alcaraz: My Way review: The 21-year-old tennis star believes in chasing greatness by choosing happiness in this sluggish docu-series

Directed by Jorge Laplace, the docu-series follows Carlos Alcaraz, the four time grand slam champion as he balances the pressures of a brilliant tennis career with a 20-year-old’s desire to let loose.

“Do I really want this, do I really want to live my life with all that pressure, do I want to keep going?” 

Carloz Alcaraz’s thoughts on the constant physical and mental pressures of being a young tennis superstar also sum up the struggles of every modern-day working human who is pursuing their dream job, is ambitious but sometimes just wants to take things slow and enjoy the little things in life, especially when burnt out. But can one do that? It's a highly competitive world and be it a tennis court or any other field, if you don’t put your best foot forward consistently someone else will crush you and take your spot. However, what’s the point of all your achievements or riches if you're not happy and missing out on living your life while you're still young? Is it all worth it? This constant inner battle of acing your career while also desiring to have fun is the spiritual crux of the three-part docu-series 'Carlos Alcaraz: My Way'. 

The tennis world is fixated on Alcaraz, the 21-year-old star Spaniard, and rightfully so. A once-in-a generation talent, Alcaraz is a perfect blend of power, speed, and charisma and his swift rise to the top has made him one of the most sought-after athletes in the world in a very short time. The series, besides mirroring his professional journey so far, also reveals the human side of the elite athlete showing both his triumphs and vulnerabilities and is a slight reminiscent of other sports documentaries like Break Point or The Last Dance as well for its intimate approach.

Watch the trailer here!

The series opens by giving insight into the athlete’s personal life in Murcia, Spain, where he can be seen spending time with family and friends, relaxing at home, and reflecting on sacrifices like being away from his loved ones due to his demanding tennis schedule. These moments are heartwarming and one of the key highlights of the show as they give the audience a peek into his humble roots with his childhood bedroom containing a twin bed and displayed trophies being an absolute winner.

The series then moves on to the show the Alcaraz we are well aware of, a tennis superstar who has to juggle between his training, media events and brand commitments amidst major tournaments, especially after the 2022 US Open title victory against Caper Rudd that changed his life forever! The series also follows the athlete not just through his biggest matches at tournaments like Wimbledon, the French Open, the Laver Cup, Davis Cup, and the Paris Olympics but also through everything that happens in between and does a fair job in giving access to his life on the court and behind it.

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While the results of these events are well known, let’s instead talk about aspects of the documentaries that made me overlook the technical flaws and the fact that it got repetitive and un-engaging at a considerable amount of times - Alcaraz’s sheer honesty and his belief in doing things in ‘his way’ despite his seniors and experienced coaching staff advising him otherwise, something that will resonate a lot with his Gen Z fans. 

There’s an incident where after the semi final defeat against Novak Djokovic at the French Open, Alcaraz heads straight to a mini vacation to Ibiza to unwind despite being unprepared for the impending Queen’s and Wimbledon tournaments. This irks his support staff but everything is forgiven because he ends up winning both the tournament with the Wimbledon, infact cementing his position as modern day great for he had defeated none other than Djokovic, the greatest player of all time! The series also features clips and interviews of other icons Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Garbiñe Muguruza, and Alcaraz’s mentor, Juan Carlos Ferrero who offer their perspectives on talent and the sacrifices required for greatness which often contrast to Alcaraz’s methods of having the best of both worlds. 

Another highlight of the show was Alcaraz addressing the comparisons between him and his campatriot Rafal Nadal. He asserts he doesn’t want to be referred to as Nadal's successor; he just wants to be Carloz Alcaraz Garfia which served as another reminder of the young gun's ambition. The final episode deals with the emotional toll his loss at Olympics 2024, first at the doubles event with Nadal and then against Djokovic at the finals in the singles event, took on him followed by his infamous racket smash at Cincinnati Open after his frustrating defeat against Gael Monfils that brought him great criticsm.

The show then quickly skims over his rivalry with Jannik Sinner and the lean patch that brings him certain realisations and maturity. However, the series still ends with Alcaraz maintaining that as much as he wants to be on the same table as the big three (Federer, Nadal and Djokovic) he would also choose happiness over massive success, 'because success is already happiness'. Overall, 'Carloz Alcaraz: My Way', despite it's flaws as a sports docu-series, gives an interesting take on what actually entails success. 

'Carloz Alcaraz: My Way' is now streaming on Netflix.

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