Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz are frequently compared, and Alcaraz’s coach Juan Carlos Ferrero has admitted that he is not the biggest admirer of this. Due to his nationality and the young age at which he first discovered fame, Alcaraz has quickly ascended to the top of men’s tennis and is frequently compared to “the big three,” particularly Nadal.
During a recent interview, Juan Carlos commented: “I don’t like to compare him to the others. You can say that you need to take the best examples available to add things to your game, absolutely. Federer’s movement, Nadal’s mentality and so on. We do try to take details from players when we think they are super good, to add them to our game.
But you know, Carlos had to hear in the past that he was the new Nadal, etc. It was super heavy on his back. In a sense, we were so proud, yes, that people think that, but it was not easy for him and me to hear that all the time.”
Carlos Alcaraz in 2023
Ranked no.2, Alcaraz played his last match on the 31st of March when he capitulated to world no.9 Jannik Sinner 6-7(4) 6-4 6-2 in the semifinal in Miami (draw).
Until now, during this year the Spaniard owns a 18-2 match record. Alcaraz has won 2 titles in 2023 in Buenos Aires and Indian Wells. Alcaraz got to the final in Rio de Janeiro.
Alcaraz is scheduled to play next in Barcelona (Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell). He will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 17th of April.
Rafael Nadal in 2023
Now the world no.14, Rafael played his last match on the 18th of January when he surrendered to world no.55 Mackenzie Mcdonald 6-4 6-4 7-5 in the 2nd round of the Australian Open (draw).
Currently, during this season the Spaniard has managed to achieve an overall 1-3 record.
He is also scheduled to play in Madrid (Mutua Madrid Open) after Barcelona. The main draw will start on the 17th of April.
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal squared off 3 times. Their head to head is 2-1 for Nadal. Previously, the last time they squared off, Carlos Alcaraz won 6-2 1-6 6-3 in the quarter in Madrid (Mutua Madrid Open) in May 2022.
In the video below you can watch the highlights.