19-Year-Old Carlos Alcaraz Minces No Words to Make His Rivalry With Idol Rafael Nadal – ‘I’m Not His Successor’

Carlos Alcaraz showed immense form this season. Just like the WTA no.1 Iga Swiatek, he also came out of the shadow and captured the headlines. The 19-year-old Spanish tennis ace jumped places in ATP and currently is at the top. However, he is quite different from other rising stars.

Alcaraz doesn’t want to become his senior and idol, Rafael Nadal’s successor. Rather, he wants to be seen as his rival. Here’s what he has in his mind. 

Nadal’s position in the life of Carlos Alcaraz

Alcaraz, in a recent interview, opened up about how he views the 22 times Grand Slam champion. For him, Nadal is a professional who has years of play ahead of him. Therefore, his goals are different. “What I would like to do is exceed him in the head to head,” he shared.

Thereafter, he added, “I’m not his successor, 100% sure. When I see him on the Tour, I see him more like a rival who I see I have to play against. Rafa and me are really easy going. We have spontaneous chats when we meet.” The 2022 US Open champion has locked horns with Nadal for a total of three times.

Read more: 19-Year-Old Carlos Alcaraz Proves to Be a Right Successor of Idol Rafael Nadal After Scripting a Unique Record

Out of those clashes, he has just one marked under his name. He was able to get the better of the 36-year-old in Madrid this year. Advancing toward the ATP 1000 trophy by taking down the King of clay in the quarterfinals.

Alcaraz after defeating Nadal in sets of 6-2 1-6 6-3 outdid another one of the big three players. He further beat Novak Djokovic in the semis and claimed the title by thrashing the German Alexander Zverev.

Alcaraz’s noteworthy runs of this season

The Spaniard started his season with the Australian Open and advanced towards the elite list by clinching the trophy at the Rio Open. Following that, in the Summer Doubles, he secured a semifinal run and the Miami Open title.

Watch this story: Carlos Alcaraz, the new sensational kid on the block

Then in the clay court season, Alcaraz reigned in Barcelona and Madrid and made a quarterfinal run in the Grand Slam. However, in the grass swing, his performance graph witnessed a slight dip.

He failed to enter the last 8 of Wimbledon. Though he bounced back pretty quickly and came out victorious in the German Open, Croatia Open, and the 2022 US Open.

Do you think Alcaraz would triumph over Nadal? Let us know in the comments below.