Rafael Nadal Shuts Down Carlos Alcaraz’s Critics Despite Miami Open Upset: “He’s One Of Ours”

Carlos Alcaraz exited the Miami Open after losing to Sebastian Korda in three sets.

Rafael Nadal Shuts Down Carlos Alcaraz’s Critics Despite Miami Open Upset: “He’s One Of Ours”

Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, Madel Suravilla)

In Short
  • Rafael Nadal defends Carlos Alcaraz after recent defeats, urging media to support him.
  • Alcaraz had a strong start to 2026, winning the Australian Open and Qatar Open.
  • Nadal emphasizes that losing matches is part of the sport, regardless of Alcaraz's success.

Rafael Nadal has come to Carlos Alcaraz’s defense following his poor run of results at the Sunshine Doubles. The tennis legend insists that the two defeats Alcaraz recently suffered are irrelevant to his ambition to remain the best player on the men’s circuit, while urging the Spanish media to protect the 22-year-old.

Alcaraz made an outstanding start to the 2026 season when he defeated Novak Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open. His victory made him the youngest player to complete the Career Grand Slam in the Open Era, beating his idol Nadal’s record in the process. He followed it up with a brilliant triumph at the Qatar Open the following month.

The World No.1 defeated Arthur Fils in the final to claim his second title of the season. He arrived at the Indian Wells Open with the intention of continuing with his form, but he failed to reach the final, losing to former World No.1 Daniil Medvedev in straight sets in the semi-finals of the event.

In Miami, he won just one match before recording a shocking defeat against Sebastian Korda in three sets. Despite Korda defeating Alcaraz, he didn’t get past the fourth round of the Miami Open, losing to World No.151 Martin Landaluce in three sets. That means, should Alcaraz have won the tie against Korda, he would have easily reached the quarter-finals.

Following the defeat, Alcaraz told reporters that he would disconnect from the sport for a while and then train ahead of the clay-court season. Some pundits are worried that his two defeats might affect his performance during the clay season. But Nadal doesn’t see it that way. After receiving an honorary doctorate at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, he told reporters that he’s not worried about Alcaraz’s two defeats:

We’re not going to worry about two defeats, they’re pointless. He’s bringing success to Spanish sport that would have been hard to imagine 30 years ago. I never lose sight of what everything he does means. We’re not going to worry about the two defeats… In this case, Carlos is Spanish, he’s one of ours, and in that sense, well, are we going to worry about two losses? I don’t think it makes any sense, nor can more be demanded of him.

Nadal has been one of the biggest supporters of Alcaraz since he turned professional in 2019. Alcaraz has had some challenges in his career, losing to players ranked outside the Top 50, but when he’s in his best form, he’s unbeatable on the court and unstoppable; even his arch-rival Jannik Sinner struggles to defeat him.

Rafael Nadal says Carlos Alcaraz winning the Australian Open doesn’t mean he won’t lose matches

Carlos Alcaraz has admitted that last year was the best season of his career. The 22-year-old lost just four tour-level matches from April to November, winning seven titles in the process, more than any player during that time. He will need to replicate that form this season; if not, Jannik Sinner has a chance of reclaiming the World No.1 from him.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/CARLOS ALCARAZ NEWS)

However, after Alcaraz won the Australian Open, he was highly praised by former players and pundits and was even dubbed to overtake Novak Djokovic’s 24 Grand Slam record. During the aforementioned interview, Rafael Nadal noted that winning the Australian Open doesn’t mean that Alcaraz will never lose a match on tour:

When someone comes from winning the Australian Open, has seven Grand Slams, is the world No. 1, what happens? That he’s going to win every match of the year? Well, it’s not going to happen. I think we all have to congratulate and thank Carlos for everything he’s doing, because in the end, he’s bringing a level of success to Spanish sports that’s hard to imagine 30 years ago.

Alcaraz will now have to turn his attention to the future, with the tennis season switching to clay from April. He will kick off his clay swing campaign at the Monte Carlo Masters, a tournament he won for the first time last year. But he made his debut in 2022, where his campaign ended in a second-round loss to Sebastian Korda.

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