Rafael Nadal set up a finger-licking match against Carlos Alcaraz after winning an impossible match against David Goffin. The King of Clay defeated the Belgian after saving 4 match points in a contest that lasted more than 3 hours. Unfortunately, it seems that this huge battle took a toll on Rafa’s body. The 21-slam champion was limping after the match. That didn’t go unnoticed and during the press conference that followed his win, Rafa commented:
“If you saw me on a daily basis, you would not be worried because I limp on many days of my life. I always have pain in my foot, especially after playing a three-hour match or a long training. So it’s normal that now I am walking a little badly.
But I have a chronic foot injury that has no treatment. That’s part of my life, and that’s the downside of not being able to finish the match earlier.
In a way, it’s good that I play long matches because after a long break my foot needs to get used to the physical toughness of the competition again. But I am also conscious for tomorrow because I can wake up with more problems and we have to accept it and face it.”
Nadal in Madrid, ranking, and results in 2022
Currently ranked no.4, Rafael achieved a 22-1 win-loss record in 2022. Nadal is currently competing in Madrid where he conquered Miomir Kecmanovic 6-1 7-64 and David Goffin 6-3 5-7 7-69.
Rafael Nadal will fight against the world no.9 Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter on Friday at 4:00 pm on MANOLO SANTANA STADIUM. The head to head is 2-0 for Nadal.
Rafael clinched 3 titles in 2022 in Melbourne, at the Australian Open and in Acapulco. Nadal was the finalist in Indian Wells (BNP Paribas Open).
Rafael won 91 titles in his career: 24 on hard courts, 62 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 4 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Alcaraz in Madrid, ranking, and results in 2022
Ranked world no.9 (career-high), the Spaniard achieved a 25-3 win-loss record in 2022. Carlos is currently competing in Madrid where he managed to beat Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-3 7-5 and Cameron Norrie 6-4 6-74 6-3.
Carlos Alcaraz will take on the world no.4 Rafael Nadal in the quarter on Friday at 4:00 pm on MANOLO SANTANA STADIUM. Their current record is 2-0 for Nadal.
The Spaniard conquered 3 titles in 2022 in Rio de Janeiro, in Miami and in Barcelona.
The Spaniard won 4 titles in his career: 1 on hard courts and 3 on clay courts. (See the list of his titles)
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz squared off just 2 times. Their current head to head is 2-0 for Nadal. Before, the last time they played each other, Rafael Nadal won 6-4 4-6 6-3 in the semifinal in Indian Wells (BNP Paribas Open) on the 19th of March 2022.
You can see them in action in the following highlights.
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz |
Embed from Getty Images |