‘Rafa Is My Idol’- Carlos Alcaraz Says Rafael Nadal Has Helped Immensely in His ATP Career

Carlos Alcaraz started this year to reach the top 15. The Spaniard wasn’t even a part of the top 100 of the ATP list. However, he has leapfrogged to the ranking of no. 11. The 18-year-old has been consistent throughout the year and has finally claimed a trophy this hard court season. As a kid who grew up in Rafa’s reign with an aspiration of becoming a tennis player, Carlos must have drawn inspiration from him. Post his victory in the Miami Open, he spoke about the same.

Carlos Alcaraz Following Nadal’s Footsteps

Carlos has been performing really well since the start of the year. So much so that it always took a player in the top 10 to pull him out of the tournaments. Though now he has overcome that as well as he outclassed Stefanos Tsitsipas, the world no. 5 in the fourth round of the Miami Open.

Read more: WATCH: Carlos Alcaraz’s Coach Weeps in Joy and Embraces Him After a Stupendous Miami Open Triumph

Carlos is of the same age when Nadal started dominating tennis, and the way Carlos is playing his path seems to be very identical to Nadal’s. While speaking to the press after claiming the title by 7-5, 6-4 against Casper Ruud, he said, “Rafa is my idol. I looked up to him when I was younger. Watching his matches, his big matches, he was pretty big. To learn from him when I was young and yeah, of course, to be around him now in the tour be able to play against him. Yeah, it’s pretty special.”

What Does Nadal Have to Say About Alcaraz?

Carlos Alcaraz locked horns with his idol in the semifinals of Indian Wells. Although he couldn’t secure the winning point in the match, he for sure won Rafa’s admiration and acknowledgment. After the match ended, Rafa patted Carlos’ head and later said, “I don’t have many doubts that he will be great. He is already, by the way.”

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Carlos, owing to his amazing physicality and wit, is now the third-youngest to win an ATP master’s 1000 title. He has the balance between strength and tactics that have helped him have a great run in the summer double of this year. We hope to witness him breaking some records in the upcoming clay-court season.