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Being Carlos Alcaraz

The Man Behind the Smile
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( 66 ratings, 14 reviews)
Brief Description
'This is a wonderful book. I love it. Mark's research is amazing, with the in-depth interviews and level of detail providing great insights into who Carlos Alcaraz is.' - Annabel Croft, broadcaster and former tennis player 'A perfect match of author and subject. Mark Hodgkinson's mix... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2999
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Releases 16th June 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "Being Carlos Alcaraz" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

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The first detailed and comprehensively researched biography of the heir apparent to the Djokovic-Nadal-Federer era.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

'This is a wonderful book. I love it. Mark's research is amazing, with the in-depth interviews and level of detail providing great insights into who Carlos Alcaraz is.'

- Annabel Croft, broadcaster and former tennis player

'A perfect match of author and subject. Mark Hodgkinson's mix of style and substance - flair and professionalism - mirrors Carlos Alcaraz on a tennis court.'

- Jon Wertheim, a senior writer at Sports Illustrated

'This is a great window into the background and processes of arguably the most exciting player in men's tennis right now.'

- Charlie Eccleshare, tennis correspondent for the New York Times and The Athletic

'A highly readable portrait of tennis's most exciting young talent.'

- Conor Niland, a former tennis player and the winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award 2024 for 'The Racket'

'This is a brilliant book. The detail on offer is extraordinary ... A cracking read for any tennis fan.'

- Courtney Walsh, Fox Sports in Australia

Being Carlos Alcaraz offers fresh insights into a tennis phenomenon based on new interviews with those closest to him, such as coaches, friends, old teachers, and other villagers.

From a modest apartment above a kebab shop in the village of El Palmar to glory on the sport's biggest stages, this captivating book traces Alcaraz's emergence and contrasts his story against the Big Three of Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, and Roger Federer.

Grit. Joy. Swagger. Belief. The dark moments between the smiles. The tears. The broken racquets. The tension of wanting to be a normal young man while aspiring to tennis greatness.

Being Carlos Alcaraz delves into the emotional and cultural forces that have shaped a modern icon - one destined to redefine tennis for years to come.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781788406253

Publisher: Octopus Publishing Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 18 June 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Cassell

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 304

About the Author

Mark Hodgkinson is known for his compelling biographies of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Serena Williams. His last book - Searching for Novak - was long-listed for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year and described as 'a terrific book' by tennis legend Chris Evert.

A former Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent, he has ghostwritten columns for Boris Becker, Martina Navratilova, Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras, and also collaborated on a book with boxer Lawrence Okolie and on a golf project with singer Robbie Williams. Mark worked on two fitness books with Daniel Craig, Tom Hiddleston and their trainer Simon Waterson, one of which became an Amazon bestseller. Additionally, he authored a bestselling book for Naomi Osaka's former coach, Sascha Bajin, and has collaborated with psychologist Charlie Unwin and former Marine Nick Goldsmith. Mark consults for international sports brands in Europe, the United States and Japan.

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