Carlos Alcaraz, one of tennis’s brightest young stars, recently opened up about his admiration for Golden State Warriors legend Stephen Curry, revealing a unique connection between the two sports. As Alcaraz navigates the challenges of the US Open, he has drawn inspiration from Curry’s approach to basketball, hoping to bring the same level of joy and positivity to his own game.
Currently advancing through the US Open, Alcaraz has had a demanding schedule, which has kept him from fulfilling one of his wishes—to see Stephen Curry and Team USA in action during the Olympics. Reflecting on this, Alcaraz expressed his disappointment, stating, “I would have loved to come over and watch the USA play basketball, but I couldn’t. You know, the tennis schedule is always so tight, so I couldn’t find the time to go.” The young Spaniard’s packed tennis itinerary has left little room for such opportunities, despite his enthusiasm for basketball.
This admiration for Curry goes beyond mere fandom. Alcaraz, who once had the privilege of watching Curry play live in Miami, has been deeply influenced by the way Curry approaches the game of basketball. “It was a joy. It was a privilege watching him play,” Alcaraz shared. The tennis prodigy is striving to emulate Curry’s on-court demeanor, focusing on bringing more positivity and joy into his tennis matches. However, he acknowledges the challenge, noting, “I’m trying to do the same things as he’s doing, you know, on the basketball court, but it is difficult.”
Tennis, unlike many team sports, places the full weight of success or failure on the individual player. This pressure can sometimes lead to frustration, as Alcaraz experienced recently when he smashed his racket during a match against Gael Monfils at the Cincinnati Open. The incident served as a reminder for Alcaraz to seek out a more positive mindset, one that he hopes to model after Curry’s joyful approach to competition.
As Alcaraz continues his journey at the US Open, his path will not be easy. The young star is on the same side of the bracket as formidable opponents like Jannik Sinner and could potentially face Novak Djokovic in the finals. Yet, with Curry’s influence in mind, Alcaraz is determined to channel his emotions positively and perform at his best.
Whether he can replicate Curry’s infectious joy and translate it into a Grand Slam victory remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Carlos Alcaraz is not just playing for the win—he’s playing with a renewed sense of passion and positivity inspired by one of basketball’s greatest players.
