Alcaraz’s great childhood rival: “No more color”

Carlos Alcaraz begins the defense of ATP number 1 at the Miami Open that he recovered last Sunday in Indian Wells and, thousands of kilometers away in El Palmar, his hometown, another young tennis player and friend of his, Pedro Cobachowith whom he had an interesting rivalry, follows his career “with pride” and confirms that “it will mark an era”.

Another young man, 20 years old -he is 10 months older than Carlos-, competed for a long time with Alcaraz.

“We’ve known each other almost since we were born. I am three years old and he will be two. We are both from El Palmar and we started training together at his father’s school in the Country Club. Because we were at the same level, they put us in the same group and then, as we stood out, we shared space on the track as we moved up the categories,” Pedro told EFE in an interview.

“A very good and healthy rivalry started as we competed both in training and in tournaments. We spent a lot of time on the track and when finished we went to the pediment. Right from the start we became best friends, we traveled together, we even shared a room and our paths crossed in championships, sometimes competing in the finals. Sometimes he won and sometimes I won, and there was a pique that reminded each other of the results, but always in good spirits”, he added.

That balance of forces lasted “until Alcaraz gave his growth spurt at about 15 years old and was colorless”, according to Cobacho, who became the regional champion and national runner-up in the under-12 category and won, among others, the Llucmajor tournament, in Mallorca, in the doubles draw, Alcaraz is definitely included and both have Carlos Santos Bosque as coach .

“Obviously few become professionals and it cost me the reality of not managing defeat after winning so much when he was young. Of course I would have liked to go further and I felt a certain sadness for the life of travel and contests, which is my life too, but I chose a different path”, he said.

However, he is still linked to the racket world and is a monitor at the MET Carlos Alcaraz Tennis Academy of Reina, managed by the father of the current number 1 in the world and develops his activity at the Real Sociedad Club de Campo de Murcia, and wants to continue dedicating himself to it, where he studies a double degree in Physical Activity Sciences at the University of Murcia and Sports and Nutrition.

When referring to the achievements of his friend, he does not hide his satisfaction at a brilliant career that surprises him only in part.

“He said that when he was young, his dream was to be number 1 in the world and he didn’t stop until he achieved it and the next thing is to take more titles and beat so many tops in his career.. Carlos is a good worker, always, and that will help him. Honestly, I am very happy that he is doing great because he is my friend and I have no doubt that he will mark an era because at the age of 19 and with just one at the highest level, he has already won a Grand Slam and three Masters 1,000. I would love him to break many records and I’m sure he won’t get tired of winning because he’s very ambitious,” he assured.

He has no doubts about what makes Alcaraz’s game stand out. “In addition to the blows he has, it is his intelligence, which makes him understand everything as quickly as possible and make the best decisions, that and the fact that the smallest bit he sees blood he goes for the opponent’s wound, as they say. knows how to play and stays calm in difficult moments. He reminds me of Djokovic because he is also a dominant player, although Carlos is more explosive and reaches everyone”, he pointed out.

“Carlos wants to win everything and I can say that playing FIFA hurts more than a racket in the hand“, he said, and explained that when he goes to El Palmar they usually meet and play paddle tennis as a couple, “but it’s true that he has more commitments and it’s harder to keep up because he’s almost always gone”.

Moreover, he admits that Alcaraz is “very natural”.: “When we go out to eat at a certain time, it can be awkward because everyone wants a picture with him, but he loves it and it’s really fun.”

“In town, in particular, there was a frenzy for him and noticed, above all, after winning the US Open and the Mutua Madrid Open, but fame and popularity did not change him because he was a very natural and simple person, very transparent, a boy with great kindness.the same as he was when he was young and, although it is clear that life can change you because of many events, he is still the same,” added Pedro Cobacho.