“In the shadow of the master!” – Tennis Twitter loses their mind as Carlos Alcaraz meets Lionel Messi at the Laureus Sport Gala
Carlos Alcaraz and Lionel Messi unexpected meeting filled the internet with nothing but appreciation for both the players.
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Carlos Alcaraz and Lionel Messi( Credits: The Storiest)
During the Laureus World Sports Awards, Carlos Alcaraz shared the same stage with none other than football legend Lionel Messi. Their unexpected meeting filled the internet with excitement as fans witnessed the beautiful exchange between the two.
The Laureus Sports Awards, started in 1999, are held annually to honor extraordinary athletes and sporting triumphs. This year, Alcaraz was honored with the ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ award for his outstanding achievements. In 2022, the Spaniard claimed two ATP 1000 Masters titles and won his maiden Grand Slam at the US Open.
During the Gala, Alcaraz met Lionel Messi, who was presented with the ‘Sportsman of the Year award. The Argentine also accepted the ‘Team of the Year award on behalf of Argentina. Their interaction took place when the Spanish player was answering the reporter. Both of them had a warm exchange as they shook hands on the red carpet.
Their meeting garnered a lot of attention on the internet. The fans celebrated their interaction as they both showcased ‘nothing but respect’ between them. The tennis world is called the World No. 2 lucky to have met the star footballer.
Sharing a wide spectrum of reactions online, here’s what fans have to say:
Alcaraz will make his debut at the Italian Open after missing the tour last year. He strongly defended his Madrid Open title after winning the final against Jan-Lennard Struff. He also won the Barcelona Open trophy after his straight-sets win over Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Carlos Alcaraz on a mission in the Roland Garros
Carlos Alcaraz has become one of the biggest threats in the upcoming French Open. The Spaniard has already won back-to-back titles on the ATP Tours of Barcelona and Madrid. He clearly stated that he views himself as one of the ‘top contenders’ for the Grand Slam.
The US Open champion had a rough start to the season when he was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open due to an injury. But since his return to the court, he has become a constant threat to the court. With his current ‘unbeatable’ form, he could stand in the way of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic‘s Grand Slam tally. The seven-time Major champion, Mats Wilander, stated that the Spaniard’s impact on tennis will be huge, as there is a chance that he will decide the ‘future’ of the sport.
“There is a very big chance because of what I saw in Indian Wells (where Alcaraz won the title), the talent, the joy, and because of the selection of shots that he has. When it comes to different match-ups, when Alcaraz is in charge of the rally he has so many more options than any tennis player that I’ve ever seen except Roger Federer“, he said during an interview with Eurosports.
He also praised the Spanish player for his versatile game style and how easily and patiently he tackles pressure situations.“It doesn’t seem like it matters what the other person does if they don’t have the power because when he can control it he can hit so many different variety of shots and he’s confident in them. He’s got the hands, he’s got the explosives”, he further added.
Apart from the favorites (Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic), the new generation of contenders like Holger Rune, Janiik Sinner, Casper Ruud, Daniil Medvedev, and Alexander Zverev will also pose a huge challenge for the Spaniard. Alcaraz recently won the Indian Wells Masters title after registering a straight-sets win over Daniil Medvedev.
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Vitasta Singh
(691 Articles Published)