“Unforgettable, Unique Experience”: Carlos Alcaraz Reveals Practicing With Rafael Nadal Is More Special Than Others

Twenty-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal is one of the biggest names in the sporting world. Over the years, the 34-year-old has inspired several young players of the game. The Spaniard has been a key factor in making people worldwide develop a liking for the sport and has contributed vastly to tennis. 

Recently, Rafael Nadal received huge praise from upcoming tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz. The young teenager was in awe of his fellow Spaniard. He has trained with Rafa in the recent past and termed it as an experience he would never forget. Alcaraz has trained with many players, but training with his idol topped that list. 

Speaking about his experience training with Rafa, the 17-year-old stated, “All players are good at training, but it is always more special to do it with your idol, which in my case is Rafa (Nadal). It was an unforgettable, unique experience that I will always keep.”

(Quotes translated using Google translate)

Carlos Alcaraz trained with Rafael Nadal during the Australian Open 2021

Carlos trained with Nadal during the build-up towards the Australian Open 2021, and it was an experience he will cherish for the rest of his life. Later, Carlos took to social media and posted a picture with his role model thanking him for the training session. 

In the current season, Alcaraz has competed at the Australian Open and reached the main draw of a Grand Slam event for the first time in his career. He won his opening-round match before he lost in the second round. Carlos is coached by former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero. 

Nadal suffered from a minor back injury early in the 2021 season

On the other hand, Rafa began his season at the ATP Cup but failed to play a single match due to a minor back injury. However, he competed at the Australian Open in the following week where he won the initial matches without much trouble. 

The Spanish legend lost in the quarterfinal in Melbourne to Greek tennis sensation, Stefanos Tsitsipas. It was one of the most memorable matches of the tournament as the Greek athlete fought back and won the match after losing the first couple of sets. 

Since then, Nadal has not featured in any tournament. Nonetheless, he intends to resume his season on the clay courts at the Monte Carlo Masters later this month. 

Also Read: Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Dominic Thiem Way Down in Race for ATP Finals 2021