Carlos Alcaraz reveals what Rafael Nadal told him after his Barcelona Open defeat to Holger Rune
Carlos Alcaraz couldn't lift his third Barcelona Open title as he fell in straight sets to Holger Rune in the final.
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Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)
Carlos Alcaraz is gearing up for the Madrid Open, the main draw of which is scheduled to start on April 23 (for Men’s events). Alcaraz will be entering the tournament after playing the Barcelona Open final.
The Spaniard was bidding to win his third title in his home tournament, having previously won it in 2022 and 2023. But in the final, Holger Rune needed an hour and 40 minutes to end his trophy drought with a 7-6(6), 6-2 victory.
Alcaraz took a medical timeout during the second set as he injured his right abductor muscle. Following his defeat, Alcaraz revealed that he received a text from his idol Rafael Nadal.
He wrote to me. To give me some encouragement, telling me he hopes that I’m not injured and that in a few days, I can train again and give my all.
Carlos Alcaraz said at the press conference
The 22-time Grand Slam champion, who called time on his illustrious career at the Davis Cup last year, lifted the Barcelona Open a record 12 times. It was in Barcelona Nadal last year made his much-awaited comeback post-injury layoff. In his final match, Nadal suffered a straight-set defeat to Botic van De Zandschulp in the first match of the quarterfinal tie against the Netherlands in Davis Cup.
Marin Cilic claims Carlos Alcaraz’s playing style is both a curse and a gift
Marin Cilic, who recently lost a Challenger final in Madrid to Kamil Majchrzak, spoke highly of Carlos Alcaraz. Along with Alcaraz, Cilic is also in Madrid for the Masters 1000 event.
The possibility of them meeting is difficult as the Croatian will have to reach the final to schedule a clash with the four-time Grand Slam champion. Ahead of kick-starting his campaign against Benjamin Bonzi, the 36-year-old analyzed Alcaraz’s playing style and said he’s not at all concerned about the youngster’s inconsistency.
It’s all down to his always-so-creative play. Players this aggressive always opt for maximum speed; it feels similar to driving an F1 car. They don’t need to win every race, but I find it incredibly difficult to show that creativity playing at that speed. For Carlos, having that style of play is both a gift and a curse.
Marin Cilic told Punto de Break
So far in the season, Alcaraz reached three finals, winning two: the Rotterdam Open and the Monte Carlo Masters. But for the first time since 2021, Alcaraz entered the clay swing without winning a title in the two Sunshine Double tournaments. He fell to eventual champion Jack Draper at Indian Wells; and then in Miami, veteran David Goffin knocked him out in three sets.
Alcaraz will be kick-starting his campaign against the winner of the first-round clash between Zizou Bergs and Yoshihito Nishioka. The winner of two Madrid Open titles (he lifted it in 2022 and 2023), Alcaraz last year fell in the quarterfinals to eventual winner Andrey Rublev. If Alcaraz reaches the semifinal, he could schedule a clash with three-time Madrid Open champion Novak Djokovic.
Carlos Alcaraz loses the No.2 spot to Alexander Zverev after losing the Barcelona Open final
Carlos Alcaraz would have continued being a No.2 player this week had he won the Barcelona Open. He topped Alexander Zverev from the second position after winning the Monte Carlo Masters.
Alcaraz’s defeat in Barcelona and Zverev’s victory over Ben Shelton in the BMW Open final took the German back to the second position. Zverev, with 8,085 points, has a 35-point lead over Alcaraz who has 8,050 points. World No.1 Jannik Sinner continues to sit on top of the rankings despite playing just one tournament (the Australian Open) due to his doping ban.
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