'I don't listen those who call me the next Rafael Nadal,' said Carlos Alcaraz

After a solid start of the season, the 17-year-old Carlos Alcaraz is ready for the clay swing, playing the first tournament at home ATP 250 Marbella event this week.

Carlos qualified for the Australian Open and became the youngest winner of a Major match since Thanasi Kokkinakis in 2014. Before the tournament, Carlos trained with his idol Rafael Nadal, learning a lot from the 20-time Major winner and calling it a memorable experience that he will never forget.

"I made a great start of the season, playing well in Australia to gain confidence. I lost three consecutive ATP matches in Montpellier, Acapulco and Miami, but I learned a lot from those and gathered experience. I'm hoping for a better run in Marbella, as I know what to do to score victories. You can't expect easy rivals in the opening round at the events like Acapulco and Miami; that's why I tried to learn a lot from those matches against Alexander Zverev and Emil Ruusuvuori.

I still want to finish the season in the top-50. I'm making solid improvements, and that's why the organizers gave me those wild cards. I would love to make a debut at Roland Garros, but I also want to perform well in the upcoming ATP tournaments; I'm excited about them. I like to train with any rival, but it makes it a special feeling if your idol is on the other side of the net. In my case, it was Rafael Nadal, and it was an unforgettable and unique experience that I will never forget. I would also love to train with Novak Djokovic in the future.

After our Acapulco match, Alexander Zverev said that we should play many times in the future. Those words from a top player are a great compliment and a motive to work even harder. I don't pay attention to those who have high expectations of me, calling me the next Rafael Nadal. I try to keep myself out of those comments, focusing on my game and my team. I will have to raise my level and improve my strokes to have a chance on the ATP Tour this season, facing much more experienced rivals," Carlos Alcaraz said.