Jon Rahm and Carlos Alcaraz are representing their native Spain.
Rahm has two major championships and Alcaraz has four Grand Slam titles, and the latter is seeking his fifth U.S. Open title.
At just 21 years old, Alcaraz has already gone beyond the realm of “young genius.”
“How can I put it? He's not a god, he's a demigod,” Rahm said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.
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Jon Rahm called Carlos Alcaraz a “demigod” at the U.S. Open. (Getty Images)
Rahm praised his fellow Spaniard, who he believes will be tennis' next big star.
“He's definitely on that path. I don't think anybody expected this. [Rafael] “Nadal was nearing the end of his career and all of a sudden, overnight, Carlos appears and becomes the next great star. It's so interesting. Nadal had done so much, winning 22 Grand Slam titles, and then two years later he's won four. It's just unbelievable.”
“I can't say enough good things about him. He's well-behaved, very charismatic, he's fire on the court and definitely provides a lot of entertainment. He's a really special player.”
Rahm got to see Alcaraz in person at this week's tournament because he and his LIV team, Legion XIII, have partnered with Maestro Dobelle Tequila, the official tequila of the U.S. Open. For a golfer, it's a perfect combination.
Jon Rahm at JCB Golf and Country Club on July 27, 2024, UK Roster. (Bradley Collier/PA Images via Getty Images)
“Since coming to the U.S., I've learned a lot about tequila, and I've always really enjoyed it. I'm not the biggest drinker in the world, so when I do drink, I like to enjoy it. I'm not one to prioritize quality over quantity,” Rahm laughed, “So, I discovered Maestro Dobel on my travels, and I've really been enjoying it.”
“They were partners with the PGA Tour, so when the opportunity came up I said I'd love to be a part of it. … Being on the front lines of that and seeing how it all came about – it was basically by chance and it reminded me of how my family got into golf completely by accident – it just felt like a really good partnership.”
Rahm can relate to tennis because he plays an individual sport, but whenever he attends a sporting event, he tries to get as close as possible to the players.
“If you're lucky enough to make it to the elite level, you understand the process of someone else competing or performing a skill. So whenever I go to a sporting event, if I have the opportunity to see those athletes, [Novak] Djokovic, I'm going to take my time and learn. On TV, you don't see everything. In person, you see everything. So I'm going to do exactly that and try to learn the little things. It's fun to watch.
“What do they do when they hit a great shot and win a game or a set? Because we all face adversity. If there's any sport where I miss more shots than golf, I think it's tennis. Whether that's good or bad luck, that's up to you, but the sport I play, I have more failures than successes.”
“In tennis, Roger Federer said it well. He's only won 54 percent of the points he's played so far, but those are his points. Sometimes he's just lucky. It's great to see how they overcome those moments and how they conduct themselves throughout the match.”
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz (L) holds up the trophy alongside Serbia's Novak Djokovic after winning the men's singles final at Wimbledon on July 14, 2024 in London. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
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Rahm will compete in the LIV Team Championship next month at Marido Country Club outside Dallas.
