Carlos Alcaraz is already a worldwide star who will undoubtedly achieve further greatness, but Nicolas Almagro thinks Rafael Nadal's achievements are beyond anyone's reach.
Understandably, Alcaraz is often compared to Nadal because he is a young player who has taken the tennis world by storm, similar to when his older compatriot burst onto the scene by winning the French Open shortly after turning 19.
Alcaraz was also 19 when he secured his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open. He has since beaten Novak Djokovic in two Wimbledon finals and won this year's French Open.
While those are superb achievements, Alcaraz is still 18 Grand Slams and 13 French Open crowns behind Nadal. The 21-year-old has a lot of work ahead to reach Nadal's accomplishments during his career.
2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic recently said Alcaraz and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner are still not at the mental level of Nadal and his legendary rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Cilic competed against Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic several times, making him a reliable source.
Former world No. 9 Almagro, who lost to Nadal in all three of his French Open quarterfinals, told Radio Marca's El Programa de Ortega Podcast that Alcaraz's presence does not change his opinion that Nadal's achievements are out of reach.
"We knew that sooner or later he would arrive, but it is a hard blow because he leaves a very big void that is very difficult to fill. We have Carlitos [Alcaraz] there, present and future, but I think what Rafa has achieved is beyond the reach of any human being."
Almagro thinks Nadal did not want to retire and would have made a comeback if not for injuries, but that does not change the 22-time Grand Slam champion's status as one of the greatest things to happen in sports.
"If injuries had spared him, he would have continued trying, I have no doubt about it. It’s a shame, it’s a sad day for world sport. He is one of the greatest that a mother could have given to world sport, a reference, a legend, an example in all aspects… Things in life."
The 13-time ATP title winner also recounted what it was like facing Nadal at the French Open. He compared it to going into a slaughterhouse because beating him at Roland-Garros felt impossible.
"It was like going to the slaughterhouse. It was a not unpleasant feeling, because you are in the biggest tournament that a sportsman who likes clay can play on, but if you go in with few options at the beginning of the match, you realise that you have none."
"It was like going into his garden and wanting to take his fruit and he wouldn’t let you. It’s something that those of us who have played against him there will take with us, we will retain it in our memories and we will tell our children and grandchildren about it."
"Getting a hold of him, especially in Paris, was difficult. He forged a legend based on work, sacrifice and values. It’s something that should be taught in schools. That made it so difficult when you played against him to come close to beating him."