Carlos Alcaraz talks his "dream life," Jannik Sinner rivalry in clay-covered 'Vanity Fair' cover

A wrist injury might be sidelining Carlos Alcaraz for the majority of this year's clay-court season, but in a head-turning spread for Vanity Fair, it's obvious that the Spaniard can't escape not just the terre battue, but the vast shadow he casts in tennis.

Alcaraz stars alongside A'ja Wilson and Kylian Mbappé in the magazine's first-ever dedicated global sports issue that explores “sport’s cultural, financial, and political influence at a time where it has emerged as one of the few forces still capable of commanding global, cross-generational attention,” per the outlet.

Covered in orange clay dust while wearing Louis Vuitton, Nike, and Rolex—in photos shot by Ethan James Green in Miami—Alcaraz appropriately blends elite sport and luxury branding. And in the accompanying feature story by José Criales-Unzueta, aptly titled "King of the Court: Carlos Alcaraz on ‘Living the Dream Life’ and His Rivalry With Jannik Sinner,” that marriage continues as Criales-Unzueta writes about Alcaraz's on-court achievements coupled with his ability to go "viral online with the same speed and ease he hits a tennis ball."

Read more: Carlos Alcaraz will keep his No. 2 ranking despite missing Rome and Roland Garros

"What makes Carlos so captivating is the emotion he brings to the game: joy, spontaneity, genuine artistry,” says Pharrell Williams, men's creative director of Louis Vuitton, in the piece. “He’s not just playing; he’s expressing something.”

The profile also spends significant time exploring Alcaraz’s rivalry with Jannik Sinner, the match-up already nicknamed “Sincaraz” and responsible for some of the most iconic matches in recent history. Vanity Fair frames their relationship as the spiritual successor to the era dominated by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, and Alcaraz says that

“We’re showing the world that we can be on court and give our best, and try to do the most possible damage to the other while playing, try to beat each other, and then, off court, just be two guys who get along really well,” he says. “We help each other give our best.”

“We are fighting for the same goal, but there’s no need to hate each other because we want the same thing," adding: “When you are competing at this level, having a close friendship is complicated. It can be done. I’m all for it.”

And while Alcaraz appreciates the flattery in such comparisons, he says "we’ve reached a point in which comparisons are over."

“I’m always going for my own style, it’s what I’ve created and I’ve trained to perfect it. I haven’t copied anyone,” he concludes. “People now know that I am Carlos Alcaraz.”