Phoenix 24
Long before the trophies and global recognition, a primary school classroom revealed the determination that would shape one of tennis’s greatest talents.
EL PALMAR, SPAIN.— Carlos Alcaraz already understood the sacrifices required to become a professional tennis player when he was still in primary school. Loli Moreno, his teacher during fifth and sixth grade at the Ciudad de la Paz school, remembers a student who frequently returned exhausted after training and tournaments. When she once asked whether the effort was worthwhile, his answer was unequivocal: he wanted to become a tennis player.
Balancing education with an increasingly demanding sporting schedule required special academic planning. Moreno prepared adapted lessons so Alcaraz could continue studying during tournament absences, forcing him to work harder than most classmates. Even when he returned after several days away and faced material he had not studied in class, he accepted the tests without looking for excuses.
His teachers recall a competitive child who wanted to excel in every activity but rarely sought attention or displayed his trophies. English and physical education were among his favorite subjects, while his athletic ability extended beyond tennis to football, cross-country running and badminton. Alcaraz even became a regional badminton champion despite having little experience in formal competition.
The qualities now visible on the professional circuit—resilience, sportsmanship and an unwillingness to surrender—were already evident in the schoolyard. His development also depended on teachers and relatives willing to accommodate an extraordinary commitment without allowing education to disappear from his life. Before Carlos Alcaraz learned how to conquer the world’s largest courts, he learned that every great dream demands discipline when nobody is watching.
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