Carlos Alcaraz has a striking similarity to Rafael Nadal’s debut at the ATP Finals as the Wimbledon champ reaches semis

Carlos Alcaraz is set to face Novak Djokovic in the semi-final of the ATP Final.

Carlos Alcaraz has a striking similarity to Rafael Nadal’s debut at the ATP Finals as the Wimbledon champ reaches semis

Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal(Image via Tennis.com)

Former World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz bears yet another striking resemblance to idol Rafael Nadal. Alcaraz has always been compared to his compatriot since the beginning of his career. However, with the 20-year-old’s career taking off, he has been proving over and over that he is worthy of the comparison.

Carlos Alcaraz’s comparison to Rafael Nadal initially began with their shared nationality. However, as Alcaraz’s game began to take form, the fans began noticing more and more similarities to Nadal’s game. With the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals taking form, the final four have been decided. The tournament will go on with Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev leading the red group and Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner leading the green group.

YouTube video

With the young Spaniard’s progress to the semi-final, another point of similarity between the duo has been pointed out. Alcaraz became the youngest ATP Finals semi-finalist since Nadal in 2006. Another coincidence is that Alcaraz had lost his first match of the tournament but went on to win the next two to play the semifinal against Novak Djokovic, the World No.1 player. This scenario played out earlier, nearly 15 years ago, when Nadal lost his first match but won the next two to make the semi-final against then World No.1 Roger Federer.

FS Video

Alcaraz has made it clear many times that Nadal was his idol growing up. Therefore it is a moment of pride for him to be able to reach the heights that his older compatriots have reached. However, Alcaraz cannot keep walking the path of his idol, for this would mean a semi-final loss.

Carlos Alcaraz will need to start walking a path of his own

Rafael Nadal is a 22-time Grand Slam champion. He is one of the pioneers of the sport and a contender in the Greatest of All Time Debate. So if the younger Spaniard wishes to follow in the path of a veteran, Nadal will be a pretty good choice. However, this will not bring him much success at the ATP Finals.

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz(Image via ESPN)

The 37-year-old is one of the most successful players in the history of the sport. With 22 Grand Slam titles, he has the second most number of titles in men’s tennis. However, one arena he has not won at is the Nitto ATP Finals. The year-ender seems to keep slipping from the Spaniard, no matter where he is ranked. He has made it to the finals of the event twice. However, none of these years saw him converting the final to a title.

Therefore, his younger compatriot, Carlos Alcaraz will have to make sure that he makes a path of his own at some point in time. Alcaraz will hope to change this scenario if he wishes to win the title.

In case you missed it: