Carlos Alcaraz considers Rafael Nadal’s absence at the ongoing Barcelona Open a significant loss, as he wants to see the best players participate in every tournament. Both Alcaraz and Nadal withdrew from the recently concluded Monte-Carlo Masters due to injuries. While defending champion Alcaraz has recovered ahead of the ATP 500 event, 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal has not.
Nadal’s Absence from Competitive Tennis
Rafael Nadal has not played any competitive tennis since the Australian Open, where he sustained a hip injury in a second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald. With his continued absence from the tour, Carlos Alcaraz wished his childhood idol a speedy recovery and expressed hope of seeing him return to action soon. Alcaraz stated, “I always want to see the best players in each tournament. It’s a shame not to be able to enjoy his tennis with all that he has achieved, and I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Alcaraz and Sinner Rivalry
Carlos Alcaraz also discussed his budding rivalry with Jannik Sinner, acknowledging that the duo put on a show every time they took to the court. The pair most recently met in the semifinals of the Miami Open, where the Italian prevailed in three thrilling sets. Alcaraz hopes to have a rivalry with Sinner similar to that of the Big-3, fiercely competitive on the court yet very friendly off it. He said, “We’re both very young and we’ve fought for great things, and every time we play it’s a lot of fun to watch. I hope to have the same rivalry with Sinner that has existed between the ‘Big Three.’ With Jannik, we also get along very well off the track.”
Alcaraz on Taking Care of Himself
Carlos spoke about his propensity for injuries, which has caused him to miss several big tournaments in the last few months, including the 2022 ATP Finals, the 2023 Australian Open, and the Monte-Carlo Masters. The World No. 2 admitted that he is learning the importance of taking care of himself. Alcaraz is confident ahead of his Barcelona Open campaign, having practiced with players such as Denis Shapovalov and Casper Ruud. He stated, “What I’m learning is that you have to take care of yourself on and off the track. You have to do everything perfectly so that injuries don’t come.” In his opening match, Alcaraz will face either Ilya Ivashka or Nuno Borges.
