Yes, Rafael Nadal, who was kicking off his clay-court season in Madrid after a big month-long hiatus to recover from a rib injury, may have been a bit lacking in rhythm. He was probably not quite ready to oppose the extent of his talent to the explosive and creative Carlos Alcaraz (9th in the world). The performance of the latter is no less immense. Despite a fall at the start of the second set where he was only a shadow of himself, the 19-year-old prodigy ended up reversing the trend to win (6-2, 1-6, 6-3 ) in the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 in Madrid, Friday May 6.
For the first time, Alcaraz beats Nadal!! Incredible performance by the 19-year-old Spaniard who won against his idol (6-2, 1-6, 6-3)!
What a match point! #HomeOfTennis #Madrid open pic.twitter.com/wZduq3E0MO
— Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) May 6, 2022
Sharp, skilful, effective on the decisive points, Alcaraz got rid of a bitter duel at the start of the match to win the first set (6-2) thanks to a succession of drop shots and a ball heavy enough to tape Nadal at his baseline.
Hit in the ankle at the start of the second set after a fall, Alcaraz lost the thread (6-1) before recovering to clinch his first victory against his model. A success that comes a year after being defeated in straight sets (6-1,6-2) for their first confrontation. A victory that will allow him to find world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.
A success which above all allows the protege of Juan Carlos Ferrero to validate his progress. The defeat, conceded a year ago on these same Iberian lands, served as a trigger. “I remember arriving very nervous, not feeling good on the court, not finding myself, not knowing how to control things both mentally and physically, and I paid for it. now”, remembered Carlos Alcaraz before the meeting this Friday. “I am a totally different player, able to manage my emotions, to manage the different moments of a match”he added.
The progress of@alcarazcarlos03 in one year :
May 5, 2021
No. 120
Loss to Rafael Nadal in Madrid Round of 16
6/1 6/2May 6, 2022
No. 9
Victory against Rafael Nadal in the 1/4 final of Madrid
6/2 1/6 6/3 pic.twitter.com/Q89Vzm72xh— Game, Set and Maths (@JeuSetMaths) May 6, 2022
The Spaniard had the opportunity to prove it in this quarter-final. First by winning the standoff at the start of the match, then by not giving up the match despite a strapped ankle following his fall. Admittedly, Alcaraz grimaced and let his frustration show in the face of a fact of play which could have cost him the game, but he especially remobilized to impose himself as a boss. We think in particular of this white game won on the service of Nadal to lead 3-1 in the third set. If the ankle holds, the semi-final against Djokovic promises to be epic.