Find Out: Why Rafael Nadal thinks ‘this’ player can be ‘one of the best in the world’

Find Out: Why Rafael Nadal thinks ‘this’ player can be ‘one of the best in the world’

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz

Rafael Nadal was called a tennis prodigy back in the day, and he has lived up to that early potential. Nadal today is one of the legends of the sport. The Clay court giant was only eighteen when he won his first ATP Title. He beat José Acasuso 6-3 6-4 to lift the 2004 Idea Prokom Open, an outdoor clay court event, which later came to be known as the Warsaw Open. A year later, in 2005 he won the French Open title. In the Final Nadal defeated Mariano Puerta 6–7 6–3 6–1 7–5.

Since that day some roughly sixteen years back, Nadal has won 87 titles on the tour and recorder 1016 wins. Most importantly, he has 20 Grand Slam Titles, out of which 13 are French Open wins. At thirty-four, one would imagine Nadal still has a good two to three years to add to his already coveted tally. 

Rafael Nadal on facing ‘prodigy’ Carlos Alcaraz  

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal

Like Rafael Nadal, another Spanish boy has been recently called a prodigy. This player, Carlos Alcaraz, came up against Nadal in the Second round of the Madrid Open 2021. Coached by Spanish world no.1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, the just turned eighteen Alcaraz had reached the Semi-finals of the Andalucia Open last month. 

FS Video

But the Spanish Armada whipped Alcaraz into submission in this second round encounter at the Madrid Open that lasted just 77 mins, winning in straight sets 6-1 6-2. After the match Nadal praised Carlos Alcaraz. Nadal said about Alcaraz, “He is humble, passionate and hard-worker. He has something special and can become one of the best players in the world.”

YouTube video

Also Read: ‘Will watch Rafael Nadal vs Soderling 2009 French open match for tips’: Alexei Popyrin