Tennis Star Carlos Alcaraz Orders Custom Sunreef ULTIMA 88 Luxury Catamaran

Carlos Alcaraz became particularly enamored with catamarans after spending a week onboard one following the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where he had just lost the men's tennis final to Novak Djokovic. Still in the process of designing the bespoke 88-footer, Alcaraz has confirmed the cat can be equipped with a traditional diesel propulsion system or a hybrid setup that allows for emissions-free cruising, and can also be outfitted with a "solar skin" that can generate clean, green energy from the sun, but the full shape of his build is only now coming into focus. Polish yard Sunreef Yachts used the Palm Beach International Boat Show to announce that Alcaraz has placed an order for a new 26.8-metre catamaran from its Sunreef Ultima 88 series.

"I decided to order the Ultima 88 with Sunreef because I feel they are not only experts in luxury catamarans but true trendsetters," Alcaraz said. "Building with them gives me confidence that this will be the perfect yacht to unwind and recharge. I feel that Sunreef and I share the same dynamic spirit — we are a great match."

The draw to multihulls was immediate and visceral. Recalling that week aboard in Paris, Alcaraz said: "I just loved how comfortable it was; the space and the stability. I think it isn't comparable to anything else." He decided his first yacht would be a multihull rather than a traditional monohull, then researched different yards, with Sunreef capturing his attention with "beautiful" designs. He spoke to Rafael Nadal at length before signing with the yard.

Representing the newest generation of luxury catamarans, the Sunreef Ultima line combines sleek architecture, modern design and exceptional performance, with a top speed of 26 knots delivering an exhilarating cruising experience while maintaining the comfort and stability of a multihull platform. The hull measures 26.8 metres on a 9.1-metre beam, built using composite construction. Designed with an active lifestyle in mind, the yacht features a spacious Ocean Lounge at the stern; a large garage, hydraulic platform and unfolding side terraces provide direct access to jet ski and water sports equipment, creating an expansive waterside leisure and activity zone. The layout will include four guest cabins and a spacious owner's suite located forward on the main deck, with the full-beam master stateroom featuring abundant natural light and a large bathroom with a bathtub. The flybridge is configured for relaxation and al fresco dining. Alcaraz seems particularly excited about the water toys that can be stored within the aft garage. "I just really, really want to have fun, you know," he says. "I just want to put my Jet Ski on there and enjoy the water," adding that his first trip will be somewhere close to home in Spain with family and friends.

His lifelong relationship with the sea underpins all of it. "Yes. I just love boats. And I've loved the sea since I was a really little kid. From time to time I need to escape from everything. For me, being on a boat and going to the sea with my family and friends is perfect," he said.

Alcaraz, who recently lost the Miami Open but remains the first seed, has also joined Nadal as an ambassador for the Polish shipyard, a role that mirrors Nadal's own path. Alcaraz opted for the 88 Ultima, which is roughly eight feet longer than Nadal's fully custom 80 Power Great White. The news follows the recent announcement that international footballer Robert Lewandowski also placed an order for a new Sunreef catamaran, with Fernando Alonso among the other athletes already in the yard's orbit. Sunreef positions these relationships as lifestyle-driven connections: owners searching for a yacht that fits their life, rather than through direct endorsements.

Francis Lapp, founder and president of Sunreef Yachts, said: "Carlos is another remarkable personality joining the House of Sunreef — a community of visionary owners whose achievements inspire the world and bring fresh energy to the yachting lifestyle."

As in the world of tennis, the 22-year-old isn't following exactly in Rafa's footsteps; he is doing things his own way. Carrying a 19-2 win-loss record into 2026 despite a third-round exit in Miami to world No. 36 Sebastian Korda on March 22, Alcaraz is now heading to Sunreef's production site in Gdansk to shape the vessel that will define his time away from the court.