Spain boasts of two great active tennis players in Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz. Rafa is a legend himself and young Carlos is already making ripples in tennis world.
Carlos imitated several feats achieved by fellow Spanish tennis legend, Rafael Nadal. Alcaraz defeated world no. 14, Diego Schwartzman in straight sets in the 2022 Rio Open final to win his second ATP title. With his victory, the 18-year-old not only became the youngest ATP 500 champion.
Alcaraz’s first clay-court match of the season also turned out to be an impressive showing, as the Spaniard earned a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 win over Jaume Munar. It was encouraging for his supporters to see young Carlos dominate the match.
Rafael Nadal is very impressed with Carlos Alcaraz and he has said, “Well, he’s playing very aggressive. He has a lot of potential. He’s a young and good guy, so, I mean, he already has a great level of tennis today, but I really believe that he gonna be a fantastic player in the near future, no?”
He added, “Yeah, I wish him all the very best. I mean, like Spanish player and like in Spanish fan, I really believe that we need somebody like him. It’s great to have him here.”
Alcaraz is the youngest active male player to have won multiple ATP titles. It is another record that was previously held by Nadal. Alcaraz currently holds two ATP titles – the 2021 Umag Open and the 2022 Rio Open – at the age of 18 years and 9 months.
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz’s tennis rivalry
The Spanish duo met professionally only once at the Madrid Open. Nadal won nine of the first 10 games. He defeated Alcaraz 6-1, 6-2 sweep to move into the Madrid Open round of 16.
Rafael Nadal defeated Carlos Alcaraz on his 18th birthday as he moved into the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open with a 6-1, 6-2 victory.
Carlos Alcaraz upset defending Indian Wells champion Cameron Norrie to reach his first ATP 1000 semi-final and set a dream match-up with Rafael Nadal.
The rise of Carlos Alcaraz 📈
April 2020: World No. 318
April 2021: World No. 120
April 2022: World No. 11 (from Monday)What's next for @alcarazcarlos03? pic.twitter.com/xC53jvqknB
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 3, 2022
Previously Rafael Nadal hit the court with Carlos in an Indian Wells practice session on opening day of the BNP Paribas Open. The pair practiced for the second time at a tournament together following the 2021 Australian Open.
Alcaraz is the youngest active male player to have won multiple ATP titles. It is another record that was previously held by Nadal.
The Spanish duo met professionally only once at the Madrid Open. Nadal won nine of the first 10 games. He defeated Alcaraz 6-1, 6-2 sweep to move into the Madrid Open round of 16.
Rafa defeated young Carlos in the semi-finals and moved onto the finals of the Indian Wells where he won the title. Rafa has a clear 2-0 lad over Alcaraz over their matches played together.
The Spanish tennis chief, Miguel Diaz Roman has admitted that a French Open final between Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz is “a real possibility”.
The opinion made after the 18-year-old won the Miami Open. Alcaraz become the second-youngest Miami finalist ever, behind Nadal, by reaching the championship match. He then became the youngest man ever to win the title when he defeated Casper Ruud 7-5 6-4.