The Netflix Slam: Lakers Legend Flew to Las Vegas to Witness Carlos Alcaraz Edge Over Rafael Nadal

The lights of the brightest city on earth did not just shine on just casinos and clubs, but the tennis court as well on March 3. The city of Las Vegas witnessed a major event in the form of Netflix Slam. An exhibition match, which the Netflix defined as “legend vs. the prodigy”. In fact, the faceoff between Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz not only attracted tennis fans but celebrities and sports icons as well.

Ex-LA Lakers star Pau Gasol also graced the stands with his presence and shared his experience on the microblogging site ‘X’. “Unforgettable experience watching #TheMatch in Las Vegas! @RafaelNadal and @carlosalcaraz put up a great show for all the fans all over the world watching,” he posted. He further thanked Netflix for providing an experience that he enjoyed every second of, as he claims.

Gasol’s tweet highlights the true essence of the match. As for the Netflix, it wasn’t probably just about a tennis game, but about creating a unique experience. Beyond the on-court action, the match served as a testing ground for Netflix’s potential future involvement in live sports.

This is not Netflix’s first attempt to set its foot into live sports. Prior to this, ‘The Netflix Cup’, an in-house golf tournament was also live streamed on the OTT platform. Additionally, the company, back in January 2024, also closed a 10-year deal with WWE to stream Monday Night Raw. However, this business side of the event did not affect the sport itself, as to what the fans witnessed in Las Vegas.

Netflix Slam highlights

The much-anticipated event witnessed the matchup between 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal and current world number 2 Alcaraz. This clash of generations served as a symbolic passing of the torch. The match itself lived up to the hype as after Nadal took the first set (6-3), Alcaraz fought back to win the second (6-4), setting the stage for a dramatic tie-break in the third set. Ultimately, Alcaraz emerged victorious with a score of 14-12 in the tie-break.

Read More: Netflix Slam: Rafael Nadal Overwhelms Tennis Fans in an Iconic Drop With Andre Agassi and Carlos Alcaraz

All in all, the Netflix Slam seems to have been a successful event for both fans and the Netflix itself. Whether this marks the beginning of a new era for Netflix in live sports or remains a one-time experiment is yet to be seen. What are your views on the grand event? Let us know your opinion of the ‘Netflix Slam’ in the comments.

Read More: Netflix Slam: Rafael Nadal Fanboy Carlos Alcaraz Relishes Unique ‘Privilege’ Ahead of Exhibition Match Against His Idol