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'Cannot do it': Rafa Nadal hits out over Carlos Alcaraz comparison

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·3-min read
Rafa Nadal (pictured right) during a press conference and (pictured left) congratulating Carlos Alcaraz at the net.
21-time grand slam champ Rafa Nadal (pictured right) has asked the tennis world to stop comparing himself to young teen sensation Carlos Alcaraz (pictured left) to allow him to find his feet. (Getty Images)

Rafa Nadal has urged the tennis world to stop comparing himself to 19-year-old rising phenom Carlos Alcaraz during the early stages of his burgeoning career.

Alcaraz - who made history after becoming the first player ever to down Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the same clay court tournament - rose to a career-high ranking of World No.6 after his fourth ATP title of the year in Madrid.

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The young Spaniard continues to draw comparisons with his icon, Nadal, and is set to become a real threat at Roland Garros this year.

Fans even noticed Alcaraz mimicked Nadal's trophy celebration after the Madrid Open, before he revealed the reason behind the imitation.

However, Nadal has now admitted it is unfair to compare the 19-year-old's flourishing career to his own.

Nadal has been asked many times, since Alcaraz's first ATP 1000 win at the Miami Open, about how similar the duo's trajectories appeared when he was the same age.

But the 21-time grand slam champion appeared tired of the questions and urged the tennis world to allow Alcaraz to forge his own path without ridiculous comparisons.

"I do not know. And I won't be able to talk every day about who will be or who is stronger that day, will I? I forgot what I was like," Nadal said when asked to compare himself to Alcaraz at 19.

"The only thing we can do is enjoy the career of an extraordinary player like Carlos. But stop comparing him to me.

"If he manages to win 25 grand slams, it will be fantastic for him and for our country. But let him enjoy his personal career. I have enjoyed my personal career.

"Probably in 2005, I wouldn't have said about myself that I was great, but I thought I was good enough. That's all. Different moments. Different careers. A different way of approaching things because times are changing.

"But let's enjoy it. We don't [need to] put further pressure on him. Don't ask me every time, because I'll always tell you the same thing.

Carlos Alcaraz (pictured) reacts after defeating Rafa Nadal at the Madrid Open.
Carlos Alcaraz (pictured) is the talk of the tennis world after winning the Madrid Open. (Photo by Meng Dingbo/Xinhua via Getty Images) (Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images)

"It's good for our sport. Honestly, in a selfish way, as a viewer, to have someone like Carlos who will enjoy their career for the next few years is fantastic.

"But now I'm still playing. I am focused on trying to do the things I have to do. That's all."

Rafa Nadal advances in Italian Open

Nadal bounced back from his loss at the Madrid Open to remind everyone to never write off the 13-time Roland Garros champion.

Nadal swept aside American John Isner 6-3, 6-1 in a dominant performance, which meant he kept an incredible clay court record in check.

The Spaniard has now improved to 44-0 in matches following a loss on his favourite surface, which means he has never lost two matches in a row on clay.

But the biggest takeaway from the match was Nadal's gradual return to form.

Showing the determination of the Spaniard even at the age of 35, when the match finished, Nadal headed straight to the practice court to hit more balls.

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