Carlos Alcaraz’s love life has hit a roadblock. The Spanish star, in 2023, claimed to have been single for over a year, but hidden inside that statement is a heartbreaking story. Breaking his silence on the reason behind the breakup, Alcaraz alluded to why his relationship with his ex (possibly Maria Gonzalez) did not quite make it to the match point.

Alcaraz, the defending champion of Wimbledon, has once again reached his favorite spot in the game—the final! Fans are in total Déjà vu as his opponent is the same as last year, the alleged G.O.A.T., Novak Djokovic. However, this time he knows how to ace against his opponent even better, with more experience and confidence. But when it comes to his love life, the three-time Grand Slam champion said last year that he has been single for over 18 months.

He was previously linked to fellow athlete Maria Gonzalez Gimenez for several years. Maria is notoriously private about her personal life, often shielding her relationships from public scrutiny. However, Tennis Tonic shared a screenshot of an Instagram story posted on Alcaraz’s account where the two shared an intimate moment. In the photo, Alcaraz can be seen kissing Gimenez on the cheek, while she had her arm wrapped around him. The two had some commonalities that made them all the way more associated with each other:

Maria hails from Murcia, Spain(Alcaraz’s hometown), and like Carlos, she is also member of the local tennis club.
Currently pursuing bilingual law degree at the University of Murcia, Maria share a mutual passion for tennis with Carlos. Reportedly, Carlos and Maria met at the tennis academy where Alcaraz trained. While she hasn’t yet turned professional, she has a competitive tennis background, having participated in prestigious tournaments like Spanish Masters, ITF Futures, and the ATP Challenger.

But despite all of that, it seems Alcaraz has been facing a different kind of opponent—distance. In a February 2023 interview with Vogue, Alcaraz seemed to imply that he broke things off with the student and athlete. “It’s complicated, never staying in one place,” he had said to Vogue, with a disappointing tone when asked about his romantic life. “It’s hard to find the person who can share things with you if you’re always in different parts of the world,” the 21-year-old added. The tennis star in the candid discussion also revealed about starting therapy to control his emotions.

“She’s helped me a lot,” Alcaraz said of his therapist. “I was a bit all over the place. I didn’t control my emotions well, I got really pissed off. When I was 15 or 16 I threw my racket around quite a bit, or I’d break one, and that put my game at risk. So I knew I had to improve in that respect. Thanks to Isabel I’ve gotten much better…And from my point of view, it’s crucial to go out onto the court smiling, feeling happy. That helps you mentally. For me, it’s everything.” For now, though, Alcaraz seems to have fully moved on from the heartbreak and even told The Sunday time how he was “looking for someone”. 

While Carlitos never confirmed his romantic association with her publicly, Maria’s “MCT” along with a racquet emoji on her Instagram bio doesn’t provide a clear picture of their current dynamic either. The 24-year-old tennis star boasts an estimated net worth of $125,000. When not focused on training, she enjoys relaxing on the beach, demonstrating a healthy work-life balance.

This way or the other, Alcaraz has confirmed one thing: the tenuous schedule of tennis is not only a concern for players’ physical health but also their personal lives. Take this year, for example. For Carlos, it has been anything but smooth. Although he took some time away for his arm injury recovery, for the most part of his schedule, he was busy either winning a title at Indian Wells or winning a Grand Slam at the French Open. Therefore, where is the time for dating? However, even with a busy schedule, he tries to maintain a healthy social life.

Alcaraz sheds light on the “occasional things” that he enjoys apart from tennis

“I am going to keep one thing to make my dream come true, even though I already have,” Alcaraz said in the same interview. However, he is well aware of the importance of a delicate balance between having a professional goal and a personal life. Therefore, the Spanish player, who grew up idolizing tennis legend Rafael Nadal, likes to learn every aspect of how to keep a balanced life from athletes all over the world.

“Sure, I like to meet famous people, and I really enjoy going to parties to meet famous athletes. But not too much. Let’s say that you have to find the right time. If you have something every day you are going to get bored of it. I have to find occasional things to enjoy,” he said in an interview.

Besides, he loves being a responsible older brother to Sergio, and Jamie. “Being the role model for them, not as a tennis player but a person,” he added. Much like him, they are into the same sport as is his older brother Alvaro. But apart from his own hobbies, the one thing he truly enjoys is going home and playing chess!

“Honestly, to go back home and be with my family, to be with them again and eat with them. I miss it. I miss those routines of being in my village and with my friends, being at home; not doing much, you know? Just enjoy having that feeling of being at ease with them and having a few laughs,” he mentioned once.

Notably, Alcaraz’s grandfather was a tennis legend in his community of El Palmar back in the days. He even built red clay tennis courts in the village, even though hardcourts would have been cheaper. The World No. 3’s father was pro tennis player as well and later served as the tennis director of the club his father built. “In my family, I think we have the sport in our blood,” the 21-year-old told The New York Times. So one can only imagine how interesting the dinner table conversations in the household are!

Carlos Alcaraz’s rise to fame is an inspiring tale on its own. And even though he might be “single” at the moment, he is receiving love from his fans all around the world!