“It’s not everyday you play against your idol”- Carlos Alcaraz ready for a potential career-defining match against his idol Rafael Nadal at Indian Wells


“It’s not everyday you play against your idol”- Carlos Alcaraz ready for a potential career-defining match against his idol Rafael Nadal at Indian Wells

Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal

Carlos Alcaraz defeated defending champion Cameron Norrie at the 2022 Indian Wells to set up an all-Spanish semi-final against Rafael Nadal. The teenager showed nerves of steel in his first Masters’ quarter-final as he breezed past the Brit 6-4, 6-3.

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Alcaraz has had a flawless season so far with 11 wins at the expense of only one loss, which was a closely fought third-round clash against Matteo Berrettini at the Australian Open. Fresh of his triumph in Rio, where he became the youngest winner of an ATP 500 tournament and then became the youngest player since Rafael Nadal to break into the top-20. Now he squares off against the man himself, Nadal, in the semi-finals in the desert.

He has an uphill battle ahead with a clash against his ‘idol’, Nadal, who is unbeaten this year. But the young Spaniard is fancying his chances and is relishing a match-up against his idol. Alcaraz has been drawing comparisons with Nadal for their similar playing styles and clay-court prowess and it is safe to say he is following in the footsteps of the 21 time Grand Slam champion, given his stellar start to his career.

“It’s tough to play against him but he will enjoy. It’s not everyday you play against your idol. I’m gonna be happy even if I lose but the focus is to play my best and take my chances,” he said.

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I think he’s unstoppable in terms of his career‘: Rafael Nadal on Carlos Alcaraz

nadal alcaraz
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz

Nadal was full of praise for the young Spaniard and said he is ‘unstoppable’, and even went on to say he saw glimpses of his younger self in Alcaraz. The World No.4 billed him to contest for titles soon and heaped praise saying it is good to see such a talent blossoming from his own country.

“He has a great team next to him, I think. I think he’s unstoppable in terms of his career. He has all the ingredients. He has the passion. He has the, he’s humble enough to work hard. No, he’s a good guy. He reminds me a lot of [myself] when I was a 17- or 18-year-old kid. I think he has the passion. He has the talent and the physical component that it’s great,” he said during his post-match press conference.

“I am super happy, even, of course it’s going to be a great rival for now and for the next couple of months, without a doubt. But thinking and being selfish, it’s great, honestly, to have such a star from my country, because we, for the tennis lovers, we’re going to keep enjoy an amazing player fighting for the most important titles for the next, I don’t know how many years, a lot of years,” he added.

This will be only the second meeting of the duo, with their sole previous match-up coming at the 2021 Mutua Madrid Open. Nadal was dominant throughout that match as he routed Alcaraz 6-1, 6-2. Since then Alcaraz has improved in leaps and bounds and might pose a threat to Nadal’s 19-match unbeaten run. With Nadal coming off from a 3hrs match, the 18-year-old will fancy his chances of putting an end to Nadal’s perfect start to the season.

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