Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old Spanish tennis sensation, is eagerly anticipating the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next week, where he will team up with the legendary Rafael Nadal for one final time. Nadal, who has announced his retirement from the sport, is set to hang up his racquet after the men’s team event, and Alcaraz is determined to give him a fitting send-off.
“I think it’s most important for Rafa, for his last tournament. I really want him to retire with a title,” Alcaraz said after losing to Alexander Zverev in the Nitto ATP Finals. “It’s going to be really, really emotional and a really special tournament for me.”
Alcaraz, who won the French Open and Wimbledon this year, has a special bond with Nadal. The duo teamed up at the Paris Olympics, falling just short of reaching the medal rounds. Alcaraz went on to win a silver medal in singles, finishing runner-up to Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic, who withdrew from the season-ending championships, is a player that Alcaraz holds in high regard. “We’ve seen before that it doesn’t matter that he doesn’t play an official match for two, three, four months because he’s going to come again and be able to win the tournament, be able to show a really high level of tennis,” Alcaraz said.
“He’s going to be fresh, for sure. A lot of time with his family, kids, wife. Have time to practice a lot, which is pretty good for a tennis player coming to a tournament with motivations.”
Alcaraz is currently ranked No. 3 in the world and has a 5-6 record against Zverev. If Casper Ruud wins one set against Andrey Rublev, Alcaraz will have to wait another year to make a run at the coveted ATP Finals trophy.
“This year, as I said, I’ve played great tournaments and really bad tournaments. My goal at the end to be there all the time. Every tournament that I’m going to play, at least reach the semifinal, final, give myself the chance to win the tournament,” Alcaraz said.
“So I have to work. Thank God I’m young, I’m still super young, so I hope to have many years to get there.”
