Recently, a 7-year-old video of 13-year-old Carlos Alcaraz adoring his fellow countryman Rafael Nadal went viral online.
Carlos Alcaraz has never disguised his respect for the legendary left-handed Spanish player. The two-time Grand Slam champion has always had lofty goals, even as a young child.
Alcaraz participated in the Rafael Nadal Tour’s U-14 division seven years ago in Spain. In an interview conducted during the tournament, he expressed his desire to be like Rafael Nadal.
Alcaraz said: “I want to be in the top 10 in the world. I want to be like Rafa Nadal because he trains very hard, sacrifices himself, and puts in a lot of effort.”
Alcaraz began playing tennis at the age of four, and he only turned pro five years ago. At the age of sixteen, Alcaraz made his ATP main draw debut in 2020, and he has since set a number of records. Since Nadal in 2005, he is the youngest player to finish in the top 10 of the ATP rankings. At the age of 19 years, 4 months, and 6 days, Alcaraz went on to become the first teenager in the Open Era to reach the top of the ATP rankings.
Despite their 17-year age difference, the tennis community believes they have a lot in common despite their different playing styles. With the same fierce, firm personality, amazing forehands, lethal volleys, and supremacy on the court as Nadal, Alcaraz is also the youngest player to represent Spain in the Davis Cup. To catch up to Nadal, he needs to win 20 more Grand Slams, but already he has the respect of tennis insiders.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2023
Now ranked no.2, the Spaniard played his last match on the 18th of November when he lost to world no.1 Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 in the semifinal in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
This season Alcaraz achieved a compiled 65-12 record. Alcaraz clinched 6 titles in 2023 in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, London and Wimbledon. The Spaniard reached the final in Rio de Janeiro and Cincinnati.
Rafael Nadal in 2023
Currently ranked no.664, Nadal played his last match on the 18th of January when he was defeated by world no.41 Mackenzie Mcdonald 6-4 6-4 7-5 in the 2nd round of the Australian Open (draw).
This year Rafael has managed to achieve a 1-3 record.
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal fought against each other 3 times. Their current record is 2-1 for Nadal. 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 following video you can watch the highlights.