“I always say that Rafael Nadal has 1,000 lives – he’s dying and he survives in every tough match”- Carlos Alcaraz

“I always say that Rafael Nadal has 1,000 lives – he’s dying and he survives in every tough match”- Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal

Carlos Alcaraz is gearing up for another clash against his idol, Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Madrid Open. He has never beaten Nadal on tour but he is surely looking up to the matchup against the 21-time Grand Slam winner as he aims to make it to the last four in the Spanish capital.

Rafael Nadal played out a clay court epic against David Goffin as he saved four match points to make a comeback and beat the Belgian 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(9), in three hours and nine minutes in a very grueling encounter. The 36-year-old limped but did not give up as he fought tooth and nail to book a place in the quarterfinals.

Speaking ahead of the quarterfinal clash against Rafael Nadal, ALcaraz shared how it is a special match up for him against his idol. “Well, it’s a special match for me, of course, to play Rafa, it’s very nice, and especially here in Madrid,” said Alcaraz. “But I will try not to think so much about that. I’m going to try to think that it’s another match, a quarterfinals, that today I have already played a couple quarterfinals. I will try to manage the pressure, the nerves, and I will have to show a good level of tennis. Mentally I will also try to control myself.”

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Carlos Alcaraz defeated Cameron Norrie in a thriller to enter the last eight at the Madrid Open

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz

It has been a very different journey for Carlos Alcaraz than the 35-year-old. The Spanish youngster is in great form as he coming to the Madrid Open after winning the Barcelona Open where he defeated another experienced Spaniard in Pablo Carreno Busta in the finals. He brought all that form from Barcelona and is showing his credentials in the Spanish capital.

Alcaraz started his Madrid Open campaign with dominant straight-set wins over Nikoloz Bashilashvili as he won 6-3, 7-5 to progress to the round of 16. In the next round, he faced Britain’s Cameron Norrie and it was a very tight clash against the ninth seed. However, Alcaraz came up with a hard-fought 6-4, (4)6-7, 6-3 win to set up a last-eight clash against Rafael Nadal.

Also Read: “I limp on many days,” Rafael Nadal shares his story of braving the pain as reaches the quarterfinals at the Madrid Open

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