In a thrilling announcement for tennis enthusiasts, Carlos Alcaraz has declared his intention to defend his title at the upcoming Barcelona Open, scheduled to take place from April 13 to 21. Adding to the excitement, Rafael Nadal has also confirmed his participation in the tournament, promising a formidable lineup of top-notch tennis.
The reigning world No. 2, Alcaraz, clinched victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of the Barcelona Open last year. Expressing his anticipation for the event, Alcaraz stated, “It is a very special tournament for me, with a lot of history, and it is played on courts that I have known very well since I was little. In addition, having all the love of the people in the stands makes it even more emotional.”
David Ferrer, Sporting Director of the Barcelona Open, praised Alcaraz’s exceptional abilities, emphasizing his unique prowess on the court. “Alcaraz has exceptional conditions to be able to dominate the point against any rival, and that makes him different from any other player. And we are talking about the youngest tennis player in history to be number one in the world,” Ferrer remarked.
In an exciting development, Alcaraz and Nadal are also set to face each other in an exhibition match organized by streaming giant Netflix as part of ‘The Netflix Slam.’ Additional matches and players are expected to be announced by the company in due course.
Reflecting on the head-to-head clashes between the two Spanish players, Nadal currently holds a 2-1 lead against the 20-year-old Alcaraz. Their encounters include a meeting in the second round of the 2021 Madrid Masters, where Nadal secured a dominant victory. In a dramatic twist less than a year later, Alcaraz claimed a hard-fought win over the 21-time Major winner in Madrid, marking a significant moment in their rivalry.
Meanwhile, Nadal is currently making a comeback at the Brisbane International after an extended absence due to a torn hip flexor. As the anticipation builds for both the Barcelona Open and the exhibition match, tennis fans are in for a treat with the prospect of witnessing these two talented Spaniards showcase their skills on the court.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2024
WWLWWWWWWW Ranked world no.2, the Spaniard played his last match on the 18th of November 2023 when he was defeated by world no.1 Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 in the semifinal in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
This year Alcaraz owns a 65-12 record.
Alcaraz will play next at the Australian Open (Australian Open). He will start the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 14th of January.
Rafael Nadal in 2024
Currently the world no.672, the Spaniard played his last match on the 5th of January when he surrendered to world no.55 Jordan Thompson 5-7 7-6(6) 6-3 in the quarter in Brisbane (draw).
At the moment, during this season Rafael has an overall 2-1 record.
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal clashed against each other 3 times. The head to head is 2-1 for Nadal. Previously, the last time they played each other, 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 key moments of their match.
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal |
| Embed from Getty Images |
