Carlos Alcaraz discloses he still gets nervous meeting his ‘childhood idol’ Rafael Nadal

Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal have locked horns three times on the ATP Tour.

Carlos Alcaraz discloses he still gets nervous meeting his ‘childhood idol’ Rafael Nadal

Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal (Credits: X/Twitter)

Carlos Alcaraz recently stated that his idol, Rafael Nadal, continues to make him nervous every time he meets him.

The young Spaniard has taken the tennis world by storm ever since he clinched his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open. Furthermore, Alcaraz also ascended to the apex spot of the ATP Rankings and currently holds the World No. 2 spot.

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The 20-year-old has frequently expressed his admiration for the 22-time Grand Slam title champion and stated that he has looked up to the latter since his childhood days. 

Alcaraz also expressed admiration for Nadal’s ability to make a comeback in the most unexpected circumstances.

During an on-court interview with Eurosport ahead of the 2024 Australian Open, Carlos Alcaraz spoke highly of Rafael Nadal and gushed over his compatriot’s mere presence in his life. 

He [Rafael Nadal] makes me nervous, obviously. I mean, I've met him a lot of times right now but I still have nerves when I am speaking with him. Yeah of course, he is my idol, he is my role model since I started playing tennis. So, I think the nerves will appear it's something that's impossible to pull out.
Alcaraz said via Eurosport.

It is worth noting that the duo has locked horns three times on the tour, with Rafa leading their head-to-head tally by 2-1. Their most recent encounter was witnessed at the 2022 Madrid Open where Alcaraz prevailed en route to the event’s title.

Related: Who is Dino Prizmic? Everything you need to know about Novak Djokovic’s 18-year-old first-round opponent at the Australian Open 2024

Rafael Nadal pulls out from the 2024 Australian Open and Carlos Alcaraz eyes maiden Flushing Meadows crown

Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal recently withdrew from the 2024 Australian Open after being sidelined for the entire 2023 season.

The 37-year-old returned to action at the Brisbane International where he was stunned by Jordan Thompson in the quarterfinal of the event.

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Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal (Credits: San Diego Union Tribune, DH)

During his last eight contests against the Australian, Nadal requested a full medical timeout after he experienced discomfort in his left hip, notably in the same area where he was operated on last year.

Having acknowledged such an issue, the Spaniard later revealed a microtear in his left hip, which ultimately hampered his much-awaited return to the 2024 Australian Open.

Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz will be marking his appearance on the hardcourt slam after skipping the event last year due to injury concerns.

Owing to the two-time Grand Slam champion’s formidable form, it is speculated that he will deliver remarkable results at Melbourne Park. Alcaraz is scheduled to take on Richard Gasquet in the opening round of the event on Sunday, January 14.

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