“Really difficult thing, really difficult news,” Carlos Alcaraz reveals first reaction when he heard about ‘idol’ Rafael Nadal’s retirement

Carlos Alcaraz, who lost his Shanghai Open quarterfinal match, revealed how he reacted when he heard about Rafael Nadal's retirement news.

“Really difficult thing, really difficult news,” Carlos Alcaraz reveals first reaction when he heard about ‘idol’ Rafael Nadal’s retirement

Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via Imago/ X)

Carlos Alcaraz reacted to the news of Rafael Nadal‘s retirement. The youngster was at the Shanghai Masters when he heard the news and after his defeat in the quarterfinals to Tomas Machac, Alcaraz admitted that it was hard for him to accept that Nadal would no longer be seen on courts playing matches. 

Nadal, however, has signed up to represent Spain in the Davis Cup, the last tournament of his career, and Alcaraz will be there as his teammate. Spain will lock horns with the Netherlands in the quarterfinals on 19th November. Both Alcaraz and Nadal will be there in Riyadh as well this month for the Six Kings Slam exhibition event. 

YouTube video

When Alcaraz was asked after the match about his first reaction when he heard about Nadal’s retirement before his quarterfinal match, Alcaraz said it did not affect him much when he heard the news but was shocked when he watched the video that Nadal posted on social media. 

FS Video

It is a really difficult thing, really difficult news for everybody, and even tougher for me. He has been my idol since I started playing tennis. I look up to him. Proudly, thanks to him, I really wanted to become a professional tennis player. Losing him, in a certain way, is going to be difficult for us.

Carlos Alcaraz said after the match

Alcaraz also admitted that Nadal’s retirement news did not affect his performance as he watched the video one hour before the match so he had the time to “accept it and forget it a little bit“. The 21-year-old now wants to enjoy the time with Nadal in Riyadh and Malaga as much as he can. 

Carlos Alcaraz sends heartfelt tribute to Rafael Nadal 

Carlos Alcaraz grew up watching Rafael Nadal play, and it’s because the 14-time French Open champion Alcaraz picked up the tennis racket. As Nadal sent shockwaves across the tennis world through the video he posted on social media, Alcaraz dropped a heartfelt message to pay tribute to the tennis legend. 

Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal (Via Imago)

From the boy who watched you on television and dreamed of becoming a tennis player to who had the immense gift of playing by your side in Roland Garros representing Spain in an Olympic Games! Thank you so much for being an example on every level, your legacy is unrepeatable!

Carlos Alcaraz wrote in the comment section 

As Alcaraz was eliminated from the Shanghai Masters, his next destination will be Riyadh. Before Shanghai, the four-time Grand Slam champion clinched his first China Open title.