Teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz has the ability to reach the pinnacle of men’s tennis following his rapid rise in the sport, according to fellow countryman Rafael Nadal.
The 18-year-old Spaniard has burst onto the main stage this year following a series of high-profile wins in recent weeks. In February Alcaraz became the youngest player to win an ATP 500 title since the series began after triumphing in Rio. A month later he went one step further by winning the Miami Open to claim his maiden Masters 1000 title. He has managed to continue his momentum into the European clay swing after claiming his first ATP title on home soil at the Barcelona Open.
Alcaraz’s meteoric rise has elevated him to a ranking high of ninth in the world and he is the youngest player to crack the top 10 since his idol Nadal did so back in 2005. Speaking about the rising star during an interview with Eurosport, Nadal believes he has the ability to reach the very top of the sport.
“As everybody knows it’s amazing,” Nadal said of Alcaraz’s progression.
“He’s a big candidate to win a lot of Grand Slams and become the number one player in the world.
“What he is doing is fantastic so well done for him and I wish him all the very best. He is doing a lot of things similar to me.
“He is young, he has the passion and the energy. He has every single thing to become a huge star.
“I’m like a Spanish spectator, personally I’m happy to have someone like him to stay on the tour for a long time and achieve a lot of things.”
This week’s Madrid Open marks the one-year anniversary of when the two Spaniards first locked horns on the Tour. At the Caja Magica Nadal breezed his way to a 6-2, 6-1, victory. Earlier this year they clashed for a second time in Indian Wells with Alcaraz winning one set before losing again.
The two could play the third instalment of their rivalry in the Spanish capital this week should they both progress to the quarter-final stage. Compared to 12 months ago, a growing confident Alcaraz says he is more mature and now regards himself as one of the best players in the world. An unsurprising statement given that his win-loss record for 2022 currently stands at 23-3.
“I think that as a player I have grown a lot, both as a player and as a person. Last year I came here (to Madrid) to live these kinds of matches, to be able to gain some experience, to be able to level myself against the best players in the world. Now I consider myself one of them,” Alcaraz said during his pre-tournament press conference.
“I am ranked 9th, and I think that I am a more mature player. Now I face the matches in a different way. I think that I can win any kind of match, whereas last year perhaps I had some more doubts.”
Alcaraz, who will turn 19 on Thursday, has his eyes firmly set on winning the Madrid title. In the tournament’s history only one home player other than Nadal has won the men’s title. That was Juan Carlos Ferrero back in 2003 who now works as Alcaraz’s coach.
“Every single tournament that I step into, I think that I am able to win it. I think I have the level and the physical state to win it. You know, this is tennis and anything can happen,” he said.
“I feel ready. I feel with confidence, and I think that I can do a really good result, and can achieve a really good result here in Madrid.”
Nadal, who is on the comeback from a hip injury, and Alcaraz both have byes in the first round of the Madrid draw.
