“I think all of us go through a lot of hate,” said Aryna Sabalenka earlier this month, about how social media can often be more of a curse than a platform to connect with the fans lucidly. She went on to note that she’s sometimes “shocked” to see just how far online trolls can take things. Her reaction came as a response to Iga Swiatek calling out fans for their hate just days ago. But then again, the WTA stars sometimes fall prey to the urge to overshare on social media at times. Carlos Alcaraz, though, prefers to keep his boundaries between himself and his fans.

The Spaniard is set to face arch-nemesis Jannik Sinner yet again in the final of the Six Kings Slam. Ahead of the high-profile clash, Alcaraz sat down with reporters to talk about how he’s maintaining focus for the imminent clash. In a post shared on X by a Carlos Alcaraz fan account from October 16, the ATP star discussed how he blocks himself from hate online. On being asked if he also likes to stay away from social media like Stefano Tsitsipas, Alcaraz said, “It’s something that I’m seeing a lot, which I’m not really proud about, so sometimes I really want to stay away from social media, from the comments, that sometimes might hurt you a lot when things are not going well.”

However, he did acknowledge that escaping social media altogether is something easier said than done. “But I think it’s part of our world right now, it is part of our job as well, I think it’s really important in the work part,” Alcaraz admitted. But keeping the personal life separate from the professional is also crucial, and the Grand Slam winner knows it, too. 

“Then in the personal part, it might be really confusing sometimes, which I think we have to deal with it right now. It is our world, the social media is, I would say, it’s everything today, or nowadays, but I’m trying to control myself, not to mess with time, seeing everything there,” Alcaraz said, about how knowing the boundaries between when to engage with your fans and when not to is essential to maintain your own sanity. 

Or maybe Alcaraz was just cautious with his answers and actions. Why? He’s been seeing from proximity how both Swiatek and Sabalenka have been talking about how social media has taken a hit on their mental well-being. After her loss to Emma Navarro in the Round of 16 of the China Open, the Polish star took to Instagram to share how fans came after her following the loss. Referring to the whole ordeal as a “sad” part of reality, Swiatek wrote, “It is worth considering, especially since World Mental Health Day is just a few days away.”

Days later, Sabalenka also came forward, highlighting how she’s been subjected to some “terrible things” online. In light of these things, it’s understandable why Alcaraz feels that having a thin line between real life and social media presence has become important to protect himself from all the rampant negativity. But hey, when you’re in the top seat, you gotta fight to hang on to it!

The flak attracted by Carlos Alcaraz might not entirely be his

As the Big Three started showing their age, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner swooped in to carve up the territory among themselves. So much so that having an Alcaraz vs Sinner final has become a staple in almost every tournament they enter. “I see you more than my family,” Carlos joked to his Italian opponent after winning the US Open title this year. It was a laugh for everyone, but the reality made speculation brew: Were the event organizers pulling strings behind the scenes to make sure Carlos and Jannik made it to the finals every time?

The pair’s foes definitely seem to see things that way. “I mean, it’s it’s just like, there’s there’s nothing that us poor guys can do against those guys as of right now. I mean, it’s just, I don’t think anyone genuinely believes it anymore,” Alex Michelsen recently acknowledged how bleak things look for everyone else in the ATP circuit right now. But the American star’s frustration might have a more profound root than meets the eye!

Tennis legend Roger Federer noted his dissatisfaction over how organizers have made the courts slower today than they were previously. In early October, Alexander Zverev mirrored the sentiments. “I hate when [court speeds are] the same. And I know that the tournament directors are going towards that direction because obviously they want Jannik and Carlos to do well every tournament,” he fumed following his Round of 64 win at the Shanghai Masters. With rumors of the duo getting an undue advantage at tournaments, it’s not abnormal that the sneers and jibes online have grown in number.

But are you willing to give Alcaraz the benefit of the doubt? After all, even we’d admit that there’s hardly any way to scratch off all that he has achieved on court within a brief period.