Former Spanish tennis star Garbine Muguruza did not hold back when asked who she prefers out of compatriots Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal.
Tennis legend Garbine Muguruza controversially chose Carlos Alcaraz over Rafael Nadal when asked which of her fellow Spaniards she preferred.
Muguruza, born in Venezuela to a Spanish father and a Venezuelan mother, won the WTA Finals in 2021 before hanging up her racket in April this year. The 30-year-old – who is the only player to beat both Williams sisters in a Grand Slam final – knows a thing or two about winning majors, triumphing at Roland Garros in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2017.
She is therefore the perfect person to comment on her compatriots, with ongoing debates in recent times over whether fans prefer the 22-time Grand Slam legend Nadal or boy wonder Alcaraz, who at 21 has already blitzed his way to four Grand Slams. In personality, Nadal is revered for his humility while Alcaraz has gained fans for his less filtered approach.
Muguruza perhaps surprisingly voiced her preference for the young talent over Nadal, believing Alcaraz’s style is more similar to that of herself. “There are moments when we think a lot about what we say, especially so that it doesn’t backfire,” Muguruza said in a recent interview with Esquire magazine.
“But I like to say what I think. Rafa is more reserved in that respect. I like Carlos, I see him more confident, younger, speaking more and saying what he thinks. And I believe people also appreciate that and not measuring your words so much.”
She went on to say about her own approach: “I don’t know why I’ve been labelled as rebellious and misunderstood. Maybe it’s because on the boys’ side it’s been very quiet thanks to Rafa.
“By showing a little more happiness or anger and not being so emotionless, I’ve been branded as a rebel, but I haven’t felt like that at all. I’m a very emotional person on court, you could see it on my face.”
