Tennis
Alcaraz to face idol Nadal one last time─── MORGAN PIEK 13:48 Thu, 17 Oct 2024
“He is a really important person for my life, for my career and he was one of the reasons that I wanted to become a professional tennis player. Knowing he is going to retire is pretty tough for everyone, and me.”
The reigning French Open as well as Wimbledon champions, Carlos Alcaraz, will get to play against his idol one last time.
The 21-year-old Alcaraz will play against his countryman and hero, Rafael Nadal on Thursdays evening before he retires following next month’s Davis Cup finals.
The pair will play against each other in the semi-finals Six Kings Slam exhibition tournament in Saudi Arabia.
Last week the 22-time Grand Slam champion and King of Clay, Nadal, announced that he will be calling a day next month.
"Since I started to play tennis I'm watching his matches. He was my idol, he is my idol.... ... One of the most important person for my life and career."
— Zain | Gracias Rafael ?? (@ItzzZain10) October 16, 2024
- Carlos Alcaraz on Nadal after today's match. https://t.co/7FemfvgA2Q pic.twitter.com/vvnYeAvzax
“Since I started to play tennis, I was watching his matches,” said the young Spanish star.
“I look up to him and I grew up watching him. He was my idol, and he is still my idol.
“He is a really important person for my life, for my career and he was one of the reasons that I wanted to become a professional tennis player. Knowing he is going to retire is pretty tough for everyone, and me.
“I will try to enjoy sharing the court with him once again, but I think it is really difficult for everyone.”
Del niño que te veía por televisión y soñaba con llegar a ser tenista al que tuvo el inmenso regalo de jugar a tu lado en Roland Garros representando a España en unos Juegos Olímpicos! ?? Muchas gracias por ser ejemplo a todos los niveles, tu legado es irrepetible! ?? Te he… pic.twitter.com/MiX8l5Jnrh
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) October 10, 2024
Earlier in the year Alcaraz got to share the court alongside Nadal at Roland Garros when they represented Spain in the double of the Olympic Games in Paris.
The 38-year-old Nadal is the undisputed king of men’s singles at the iconic tennis area in Paris following a record 14 titles on the clay courts during his illustrious career.
It will be only the fourth time Alcaraz and Nadal face each other with Nadal leading the head-to-head battle 2-1.
The other semi-final will be played between the reigning world number one, Jannik Sinner, and the 24-time Grand Slam champion, Novak Djokovic, of Serbia.
The match between Alcaraz and Nadal in Riyadh is scheduled to start at 18:15.
OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg
