"Stop comparing Carlos Alcaraz to me" asks Rafael Nadal

Thursday, 12 May 2022 at 05:00

Updated at Saturday, 07 December 2024 at 22:12

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byErik Virostko

Although there are many similarities between Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal, it looks like the players don't enjoy being compared all the time, and both want to focus on their own careers.

Carlos Alcaraz is a rising star of men's tennis, and because of many similarities to the only 21-time Grand Slam champion on the ATP Tour, Rafael Nadal, they are compared quite often.

However, sometimes reporters try to find similarities in places where they are not, as demonstrated by the recent trophy bite after Alcaraz's Madrid Open victory.

The young Spaniard explained that he didn't bite the trophy because of his more experienced colleague, and now also Nadal asked reporters to stop comparing them as he talked to the media ahead of the 2022 Italian Open in Rome.

"The only thing that we can do is enjoy the career of an amazing player like Carlos. Will be better, even if it's interesting, you stop comparing him to me."

"If he's able to win 25 Grand Slams, it's going to be amazing for him and for our country, and I will be happy for him. But let him enjoy his personal career. Don't put pressure, extra pressure, on him. Don't ask me every time. I am super happy to have an amazing player like him in our country."

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Nadal explained that he enjoyed his own career, and Alcaraz should be able to do that too without being constantly compared to someone.

"I enjoyed my personal career. I think I am super happy the way that I was able to manage my tennis career. It is his moment now to manage his personal career the way that he wants it."

"We cannot be, all the time, thinking about how was it, how he is today. He is what he is, he's fantastic. Probably in 2005, I will not say about myself that I was fantastic, but I think I was quite good too."