Carlos Alcaraz will face Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals in Madrid on Friday. The 19-year-old has already faced his childhood idol twice without success. However, this time it seems as if Carlito has a strong chance to beat Rafa. The King of Clay seems to struggle a lot with his injured foot after defeating David Goffin in a match that lasted more that 3 hours.

Nevertheless, Alcaraz doesn’t “trust” Rafa being aware that the 21-slam champion is incredibly resilient.

When asked how to defeat Nadal, the Spanish teenager was quite straightforward, saying he “just” needs a very good game.

“I always say he has a thousand lives. He survives in every match, in every tough match for him. I think if I have a really good game then I have chances to win.”

Alcaraz in Madrid, ranking, and results in 2022

Carlos Alcaraz

72 - 13win/loss

Hard
28-7
I Hard
11-2
Clay
22-3
Grass
11-1
Rank
1
High
1
22 year old
LWWWWLWWWW
2025 Highlights
W
RotterdamMonte-CarloRomeFrench OpenLondonCincinnatiU.S. OpenTokyo
F
BarcelonaWimbledonNitto ATP Finals
SF
Indian Wells
SEE ALL

Currently ranked no.9 (career-high), Alcaraz has a composed 25-3 win-loss record in 2022. The Spaniard is competing in Madrid where he 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 actual record is 2-0 for Nadal.

The Spaniard clinched 3 titles in 2022 in Rio de Janeiro, in Miami and in Barcelona.

Alcaraz won 4 titles in his career: 1 on hard courts and 3 on clay courts. (See the list of his titles)

Madrid
Alcaraz's Record
Projected
Draw

Nadal in Madrid, ranking, and results in 2022

Rafael Nadal

12 - 8win/loss

Hard
2-1
I Hard
0-1
Clay
10-6
Rank
173
High
1
39 year old
LLWLWWWWLL
2024 Highlights
F
Bastad
QF
Brisbane
4th
Madrid
SEE ALL

Now the world no.4, Rafael has achieved a compiled 22-1 record in 2022. Rafael is now competing in Madrid where he toppled Miomir Kecmanovic 6-1 7-64

and David Goffin 6-3 5-7 7-69.

Rafael Nadal will play the world no.9 Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter on Friday at 4:00 pm on MANOLO SANTANA STADIUM. Their record is 2-0 for Nadal.

The Spaniard clinched 3 titles in 2022 in Melbourne, at the Australian Open and in Acapulco. Nadal reached the final 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)

Madrid
Nadal's Record
Projected
Draw

Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal fought against each other just 2 times. The 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.

Here the video highlights.

Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal

Embed from Getty Images