The New Beatlemania? How Spain's love for Carlos Alcaraz is flourishing after making Madrid Open semis

From the central labyrinth of Madrid’s Metro system and right down the Yellow number 3 line to San Fermin-Orcasur station, there’s simply no escaping the gaze of Carlos Alcaraz en route to ‘The Magic Box’. The face of the world No.2 and reigning US Open champion lights up countless Metro advertisements while the ensuing stroll in red-hot midday sun along Avenida de los Fueros reveals occasional mural-type images and hanging banners of the Murcia-born starlet.

Ad There’s even the rather apt sight of small children in a nearby infant school swishing imaginary rackets during playtime, shouting ‘Alcaraz’ as they imitate a famous drop shot and perhaps even dream of one day emulating Spain’s brightest tennis star. ATP MadridAlcaraz survives Khachanov test to reach Madrid semis4 HOURS AGO It’s a scene-setter that encapsulates the buzz around Alcaraz in his homeland right now.

His success and meteoric rise is nothing new, but his form in Spain is beginning to take the shape of Rafael Nadal-type dominance. The love for him, dare we say it, is almost developing into a love as strong and passionate as Beatlemania.

Or is that just clear hyperbole from a scribe who has had too much Spanish sun? Perhaps at this stage, but the tennis world has already fully embraced his genius and it feels like he is taking on wider cultural significance in his own country with each passing tournament. Less than two weeks ago he defended the first title of his career with a comprehensive demolition of Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Barcelona Open final and here, in Spain's capital city, he is the favourite to secure back-to-back Madrid titles in front of an even greater army of swooning supporters.