Nadal praises Alcaraz after exhibition defeat

Former No. 1 Rafel Nadal expressed relief about nearing the end of his tennis career, acknowledging that he won’t have to face Carlos Alcaraz too frequently. The 37-year-old Spaniard conceded to his compatriot in an exhibition match in Las Vegas on Sunday. Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, praised the 20-year-old Alcaraz, stating that the future of Spanish tennis is in capable hands.

Alcaraz, already a U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion, is currently No. 2 behind Novak Djokovic. Nadal, anticipating his retirement in 2024 due to a series of injuries impacting his appearances, emphasized the joy of watching Alcaraz play as a fan in the years to come.

“In Spain, we should be very, very happy about having someone like Carlos coming. He’s an amazing player. He’s only 20 years old and has already won two Grand Slams and a couple of important tournaments,” Nadal said.

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Despite spending almost a year on the sidelines due to a hip flexor injury and suffering a muscle injury at the start of this season, Nadal remarked that he felt “much better than expected” during the exhibition match. Both Nadal and Alcaraz are set to compete next in the Masters tournament at Indian Wells.