Rafael Nadal's uncle and former coach, Toni Nadal, has sternly warned Carlos Alcaraz "should quit tennis" if it continues to "overwhelm" him.
The comments amid the release of Alcaraz's new Netflix documentary series "Carlos Alcaraz: My Way" where he stated that his biggest fear is "ending up seeing tennis as an obligation."
Toni Nadal has delivered a characteristically blunt response to Carlos Alcaraz's candid admission about his relationship with tennis.
The four-time Grand Slam winner explained: "Sometimes I feel like I am enslaved to tennis and that causes anxiety, frustration, doubts."
Carlos Alcaraz announced his new Netflix documentary series in April
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The 21-year-old's honest reflection about the pressures of professional tennis generated significant attention when the documentary was released in April.
Speaking on the Nude Project podcast, Toni Nadal did not mince his words about Alcaraz's struggles.
"If it overwhelms him, then he should quit tennis," the 64-year-old declared, despite admitting he had not watched the documentary himself.
Nadal criticised what he sees as a tendency amongst athletes to dramatise their circumstances.
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Toni Nadal is Rafael Nadal's uncle and former coach
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"In the end, in the world of sport there is a tendency to exaggerate everything.
"I've heard people talk many times about the sacrifice of sport, the sacrifice that the Real Madrid athletes made, and I used to say: 'Sacrifice?'"
Toni Nadal outlined his philosophy that life inherently requires making difficult choices and accepting consequences.
He explained: "Life is a matter of sacrifice, not just doing what I want.
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"Sometimes it's worth it for people and sometimes it's not. If it's not worth it, it's better to change jobs."
The veteran coach clarified his understanding of sacrifice versus personal cost.
"I'm not talking about sacrifices because I understand that sacrifice is what you do for others. When you do it for yourself, it's the price you have to pay."
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He acknowledged that Alcaraz does pay a price for his tennis career but emphasised the need to accept life's challenges.
Despite his harsh words, Toni Nadal expressed hope that Alcaraz would continue playing, acknowledging his status as "one of the best in the world."
He pointed to the substantial benefits the young Spaniard enjoys from his tennis career.
"Alcaraz, being a great tennis player, also pays a price, it's true. But on the other hand, he earns much more money than the vast majority of young people his age, has much greater social recognition, and has experiences that few others have."
This perspective contrasts sharply with Rafael Nadal's own reflections during his Roland Garros farewell ceremony, where the 22-time Grand Slam champion said his hard work and injury recoveries never felt like sacrifices because of his love for tennis.
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