By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, October 10, 2024
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
King of clay Rafael Nadal famously said suffering is a prerequisite for Grand Slam success.
Carlos Alcaraz said Nadal's retirement is a painful prospect for him and the sport
More: Rafael Nadal Announces Retirement from Tennis
After Alcaraz was upset 7-6(5), 7-5 by 23-year-old Tomas Machac at the Rolex Shanghai Masters today, he was asked his reaction to Nadal announcing he will officially retire after playing for Spain in next month's Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga, Spain.
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 king of clay is not only his idol, he inspired the young Carlitos to pursue a pro tennis career.
"It was tough to accept it. I was in shock a little bit," Alcaraz said of Nadal's retirement announcement. "Thanks that I saw it like one hour before the match, so I had time to accept it and forget it a little bit before the match.
"It is a really difficult thing, really difficult news for everybody, and even tougher for me. He has been my idol since I start playing tennis. I look up to him.
"Proudly, thanks to him, I really wanted to become professional tennis player. Losing him, in a certain way, is going to be difficult for us, so I will try to enjoy as much as I can when he's going to play."
The good news is the Spanish superstars will be teammates on the Spanish Davis Cup squad next month.
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.
Captain Ferrer said Nadal is already training for the Davis Cup Final 8 and plans to play the 6 Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia next month as part of his Davis Cup preparation.
"I'm very excited to have Rafa and I'm very proud of this team and what we've achieved so far. Hopefully we can give great joy in Malaga," Ferrer told the Spanish media. "There are still two months left, but his idea is to be in the exhibition in Saudi Arabia, he is preparing for it. He is already training on the court and that is important.
"It is possible that he will play something else, but as of today his schedule is to play the exhibition, in which he will have to be well prepared because the level will be very high. If Rafa tells me that he wants to be in Malaga, I know that he will be fine because he is very honest."
Alcaraz said he will relish his final moments on court with his tennis idol, mentor and friend.
"But we are going to play in Saudi Arabia, and then Davis Cup, so I'm going to try to enjoy as much as I can the time with him, but, yeah, it is a shame for tennis and for me," Alcaraz said.