Carlos Alcaraz faced Rafael Nadal for the first time in 2021 at the Madrid Open, and it wasn't that great of an experience for him as he was beaten in two simple sets.
Alcaraz grew up idolizing Nadal, which shouldn't come as a huge surprise because he's Spanish, and Nadal is the best Spanish tennis player of all time. For much of his childhood, the youngster was watching Nadal battle one of his other favorites, Roger Federer, and winning frequently.
Nadal's legendary status made him an intimidating tennis figure. They faced each other for the first time at the 2021 Madrid Open, and it wasn't an easy match for Alcaraz.
He was very nervous and didn't play well, ultimately getting beaten 6-1, 6-2. It was a tough loss, but it was also a nightmare, which he admitted recently ahead of the 2024 Laver Cup, and the score certainly backs up his claim that it wasn't a very comfortable experience.
"Against him, I mean, I think for me I just think when I played against him the first time, you know, there were times for me was kind of a nightmare. Obviously, playing against Rafa is always tough. I tried to find in a good way playing against a rival."
Alcaraz would have better luck the next time he faced Nadal, as it happened one year later at the Indian Wells Open. He won a set but still lost in three sets. The first time he beat Nadal was later that year at the Madrid Open, and all of those experiences made it easier for him to face Nadal.
Alcaraz's approach was simple any time he had to face him. He tried to play as best as possible and win, but his most overbearing feeling about it was that he was simply glad he got a chance to play him. It was a privilege for him.
"It doesn't matter for me that I'm gonna play against him. So every time that I face him, when I tried to be a good player enough to beat him, I mean, as everybody sitting at the table playing against him, we think that it is a privilege, or at least for me."
Another huge privilege for Alcaraz was standing on the same side of the court with Nadal at the Paris Olympics, which was another great experience for the youngster.
Since then, he has talked about it a few times, most notably at the Cincinnati Open, where he explained that it's something that he'll never forget. He almost got a chance to do that again at this year's Laver Cup, but Nadal withdrew from the event, ending that possibility.
"It was a great experience, talking with Rafa off the court, knowing each other much better off the court. It was a great experience, obviously, playing doubles together. It was great."
"It was something that I will never forget, for sure... I reached my dream, my dream came true, playing doubles alongside Rafa."