Carlos Alcaraz returned to the ATP Challenger Tour on Wednesday, not as a competitor, but a spectator.

The Spaniard grew up close to the host site of this week’s Murcia Challenger. After a strong ‘Sunshine Double’ in the United States, Alcaraz returned home and made an appearance at the Costa Calida Region de Murcia.

The eight-time tour-level titlist enjoyed second-round action at the Challenger 75 event and interacted with fans who were eager to meet their home favourite.

The 19-year-old Alcaraz found his professional tennis roots on the Challenger Tour before rising to the top echelons of the sport.

When Alcaraz made his Challenger debut at the Alicante Challenger in 2019, the Spaniard defeated Jannik Sinner, whom he has played six times in tour-level action, including in the semi-finals of last month’s ATP Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami.

Alcaraz made rapid Challenger Tour progress, collecting four titles before graduating to the ATP Tour, where he’s reached World No. 1 and triumphed at the 2022 US Open.

Carlos Alcaraz at the Real Murcia Club De Tenis-1919 on Wednesday. Credit: Andres Molina