Rafael Nadal convinced Carlos Alcaraz will have ‘one of the best careers’ but warns him about ‘this’
Rafael Nadal feels compatriot Carlos Alcaraz has the ability to withstand intense pressure from the media and fans.
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Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)
Carlos Alcaraz has become a cynosure of all eyes, but along with praises, criticism and pressure, too, has become his daily companion. It’s due to his inconsistent performance.
Although he has been reaching finals and winning trophies, in some tournaments, he is failing to make deep runs. Last year, he was the winner of four titles, two of which were the Grand Slam titles he lifted at Wimbledon and the French Open.
Rafael Nadal, however, is not at all worried about him. Nadal, the idol of Alcaraz, who got the chance to play alongside him at the Paris Olympics last year, only predicted an impressive career for the young Spaniard. The retired player backed Alcaraz to handle all the pressure he has been receiving and foresees a great career. But to be one of the best, Alcaraz must keep injuries at a bay.
I think he’s doing great, and he’s having an amazing career and he’s going to win much more if he stays out of injury – that’s the most important thing. I wish and I really believe that he’s going to have one of the best careers of all time.
Rafael Nadal told CNN
This year, Alcaraz has so far participated in seven tournaments, reaching three finals, winning the Rotterdam Open and the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time in his career. The 21-year-old progressed to the Barcelona Open final but was denied his third title in the Spanish capital by Holger Rune. He is not playing the ongoing Madrid Open as a hamstring injury he suffered during the Barcelona Open final forced him to withdraw from the Madrid Open.
Rafael Nadal reiterates how he wants to be remembered
Nadal has achieved impressive feats in tennis that many players can only dream about. On clay, he, without a shadow of doubt, was the most formidable player; in fact, several of his former colleagues did not shy away from revealing that facing Nadal at the Roland Garros was the ‘toughest’ challenge in the history of the sport.
The winner of 22 Grand Slam titles, which included 14 French Opens, Nadal doesn’t want the numbers to define his legacy. He has time and again stated that he wants to be remembered as a good human being and during the same interview with CNN, he reiterated the same when asked about his legacy.
Of course, I will be remembered as a good tennis player, but for me, it’s important to be remembered as a good person, a player who fights as hard as possible but with positive values, always being fair and correct with everyone on court.
Rafael Nadal said
The 38-year-old called time on his stunning career at the Davis Cup after Spain’s 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. Nadal played his last official match in that tournament, losing the first match of the tie to Botic Van de Zandschulp.
Sebastian Korda mourns the demise of his cat named after Rafael Nadal
Sebastian Korda took to his Instagram story on April 29 to share an emotional post on his cat, who passed away the same day. The cat, Rafi, was named after Korda’s idol, Rafael Nadal.
Goodbye my friend.
Sebastian Korda wrote on Instagram
Check out out his Instagram story here:
The American tennis ace met Nadal twice and lost both the matches. They first locked horns with each other in the fourth round of the 2020 Roland Garros, followed by their meeting in the second round of the 2022 Indian Wells.
The 24-year-old was last seen in action at the Madrid Open where Casper Ruud defeated him in the third round. Korda, the winner of two titles, has not yet lifted a trophy this season and produced his best performance when he reached the Adelaide International final, losing the match to Felix Auger-Aliassime.
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