In a sport like tennis, which often expects athletes to live and breathe their profession 24/7, even taking a couple of days off can spark backlash from fans. And Carlos Alcaraz knows this better than many. While he is currently facing one of the most frustrating times with a lingering right wrist injury that has forced him off the ATP Tour, his idol, Rafael Nadal, was asked about his dedication based on those past trips. But Rafael Nadal is having none of it. The 22-time Grand Slam champion shut down critics, drawing on his own experience.
Rafael Nadal Backs Carlos Alcaraz’s Off-Court Lifestyle Against Ibiza Criticism
In his recent interview with CNN, Nadal was asked what he thought of Alcaraz saying last June that he enjoys his time off, partying and dancing in Ibiza. Nadal stepped in with a reality check.
“Everyone has a different personality, you know. I did, too,” Nadal said. My life was not only tennis. I went to Ibiza every single year with my friends. But, I mean, everyone needs to find their own space. I think some people need more, some people need less, but my life was much more than tennis. But I didn’t want to project that to the world because I didn’t find it interesting for the world that I was going to Ibiza or I was going to this or the other thing. I mean, he decided to make that public. I respect that. It seems like it’s working very well for him.”
It was last year in June that the 22-year-old celebrated his Roland Garros title by flying to the Spanish island of Ibiza, where he spent time recharging with friends. “I went to Ibiza again,” Alcaraz said during his pre-tournament press conference before Wimbledon 2025. “It was fun, but honestly, I was there more mentally than physically. I had fun, just three nights, three days, and I think that was more than enough… The craziest thing was probably staying out really late. I danced a bit, but nothing more than what a normal person would do.”
He had to face severe criticism from fans and analysts alike for partying right before another major Grand Slam. But as Nadal said, it’s part of finding one’s own space during a demanding schedule.
This year, however, downtime looks vastly different for the young Spaniard. The right wrist injury has derailed his season ever since his run in Monte-carlo, forcing him to step away from Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, the French Open, and even Wimbledon. Having battled so many career-threatening wrist issues himself, Nadal offered a comforting and experienced perspective on Alcaraz’s current reality:
“The injury he has, well, I’ve had it twice myself. There’s one very positive thing about injuries: if you go through the proper recovery process, there are no lasting effects.”
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Meanwhile, in his absence, his biggest rival, Jannik Sinner, has seized total control of the men’s game. The 24-year-old world No. 1 recently completed a historic “Career Golden Masters,” joining Novak Djokovic as the only other player to win all nine ATP Masters 1000 events.
Alcaraz is now expected to return for the hard-court swing before the US Open.