By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Photo credit: Fayez Nureldine/AFPGetty
Nadalcaraz lives on.
Rafael Nadal inspired Carlos Alcaraz to pursue a pro tennis career.
The reigning Roland Garros champion vows he won't give the King of Clay the royal treatment when the pair face off in a blockbuster Six Kings Slam semifinal exhibition in Riyadh.
More: Rafael Nadal Announces Retirement from Tennis
Alcaraz hammered Holger Rune 6-4, 6-2 today to set up the Six Kings Slam semifinal vs. his hero, Nadal, who announced his retirement last week.
The Alcaraz vs. Nadal exhibition match is set for tomorrow, Thursday, October 17th, at 2 p.m. Eastern time.
Though Spanish Davis Cup teammates Alcaraz and Nadal will be together for the 38-year-old Spanish superstar's final event at the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga, Spain next month, their Six Kings Slam meeting will be their last singles clash, barring future exhibitions.
Alcaraz said he plans to bring "full power" and no fear against his Olympic doubles partner Nadal.
"I saw him in the hallway. I could talk a little bit with him," Alcaraz said of Nadal. "I could talk about life. I had my time with him here.
"I gonna go full power. I’m not surprised he’s practicing 100 percent, hitting the ball super hard, hitting the ball really, really well. I’m not surprised at all.
"The legend he is, it doesn’t matter he stayed away from tennis three or four months. He’s gonna come back as strong as ever before. I’m gonna try to play the same level I’m playing. But obviously I’m going to go full without fear."
Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz, who partnered Nadal in a captivating Nadalcaraz doubles dream team at the Paris Olympic Games last summer, said the 22-time Grand Slam champion inspired the young Carlitos to pursue a pro tennis career.
"Since I start playing tennis I have watched his matches," Alcaraz said of Nadal. "I look up to him. I grew up watching him. He is my idol.
"It is sad knowing he’s going to retire from tennis. A really important person for my life, for my career. He is one of the reasons that I wanted to become a professional tennis player. It is a privilege playing against him once again. It’s gonna be tough for me but I will try to enjoy sharing the court once again yeah it is really difficult for everyone."
Spanish captain David Ferrer named Alcaraz, Roberto Bautista Agut, Pablo Carreño Busta, Marcel Granollers and Nadal to the squad for the Davis Cup Final 8 set for November 19-24 at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena in Malaga, Spain. So there is a prospect of a potential Nadalcaraz reunion before home fans in the King of Clay's farewell.
The Six Kings Slam showdown gives fans a chance to see two of the best forehands in Open Era history on display.
Former world No. 1 Hall of Famer Jim Courier has called Nadal's forehand the best ever.
Asked if he regards Nadal's lefty forehand as better than his righty forehand, Alcaraz offered a diplomatic response.
"I just start my career so I have to choose Rafa’s forehand at the moment," Alcaraz said. "But I’m really happy with my forehand so let’s see at the end of my career who has the better forehand."