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Carlos Alcaraz has named a new rival who is “already a threat” – even though they’ve never met on the tennis court. The world No. 3 is back in action at this week’s Paris Masters, a tournament he has historically struggled with. But Alcaraz is hoping to change that in 2026, and arrives full of confidence after lifting the title in Vienna last week. However, he could face his new “threat” in the semi-finals, Rafael Jodar.
The 20-year-old reached a new career-high of No. 10 in the world this week, making history for the fastest time between his ATP debut and his top 10 debut. The young Spaniard has already had a stellar season, winning a maiden title in Marrakech, reaching finals at the Shanghai Masters and DC Open, and getting to the French Open quarter-finals. But he has yet to face Alcaraz, who spent almost five months sidelined by a wrist injury.
They have already linked up on the tennis court, however, as both represented Team Europe at the Laver Cup this year. And they will also represent Spain at the Davis Cup Finals later this month. After watching Jodar’s rapid rise, Alcaraz was asked whether the new world No. 10 could be a threat in the future.
“Well, he's already a threat, you know,” the seven-time Major champion declared. “It's unbelievable the way he's playing in his first year on the tour, broke a record of, you know, the amount of days he made it to since he broke the top 100 to the top 10, I think, or something, being up there.
“I'm just really happy about him. Such a humble guy, great guy, going with his father as a coach, you know, all around and making great things. Really happy about him. He deserves to be in this position.”
While Alcaraz knows his young countryman will be a dangerous opponent, he’s also looking forward to their eventual first meeting. The world No. 3 added: “Obviously it's great to have Spanish company in the top 10.
“We all enjoy his tennis, because every time that I watch him, it's a privilege, it's a joy, and just excited about facing him one day, you know, for the first time, practising with him, you know, in the tournaments. Yeah, but for sure, for now, that he already is, you know, to the future, he's gonna be a player to be aware.”
Alcaraz and Jodar may well face off in Paris this week, as they are both in the bottom half of the draw and can meet in the semi-finals. But Alcaraz has never made it that far at this event. His best showing was a quarter-final in 2022, when he retired with an abdominal injury.
Last year, the seven-time Grand Slam winner was stunned by Britain’s Cameron Norrie in round one. And Alcaraz has now admitted that he has not always felt his best “mentally” when playing the final Masters 1000 event of the season.
Addressing his record at the Paris Masters, he said: “I don't know, to be honest. It's a bit, I'm gonna say, yeah, weird, because we've seen, you know, the rest of the tournaments. At some point, I have played, you know, good tennis here, the part that I played, I would say, was quarter-finals against Holger [Rune], and I haven't played my best tennis here.
“Any specific reason for that, I'm not sure. There were some years that I came here not feeling 100 per cent, especially mentally. But there were some years that I felt well, I felt I really wanted to be here playing at my best. I was excited about playing here, and ended up losing first or second round, not playing good tennis.
“So not any specific reason for that, but, you know, I'm pretty sure at some point I will do great in this tournament, I will feel the way that I want to feel in this tournament, and it will happen sooner than later.”
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