Alcaraz pays tribute to Nadal: “I wish I had come to the circuit earlier”

Rafael Nadal left professional tennis on November 19, 2024, and his potential heir Carlos Alcaraz regretted turning pro in 2018, 17 years after the former did, yearning to cherish more experiences than the three head-to-head fights on the ATP Tour, Olympics collaboration, and a couple of exhibitions.

Before walking away from the racquet sport, however, Nadal left Alcaraz with glorious memories, valuable lessons, and most importantly, the drive to compete and win against varied opponents on the tennis court.

The youngster was there when the 22-time Grand Slam champion hit his last forehand — against the Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp (lost 6-4, 6-4) in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Davis Cup in Malaga. He vied to extend Spain’s run and Nadal’s career, beating Tallon Griekspoor (7-6 (0), 6-3) in singles, but couldn’t do enough for his idol, failing in doubles duty with Marcel Granollers (lost 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3) to Wesley Koolhof / Botic van de Zandschulp).

“Rafa has taught me the passion with which you have to live tennis,” Alcaraz said paying tribute to Nadal while talking to the press in Malaga. “Lucky to have him around. I wish I had come to the circuit earlier. I take unforgettable moments with me. Thanks to him I wanted to be a tennis player.”

These two 🥹❤️💛#DavisCup | @RafaelNadal | @carlosalcaraz pic.twitter.com/uZslfOZSKD

— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 19, 2024

Having won four Grand Slam titles at 21, Alcaraz has made a strong case to be considered a threat to the numbers Nadal and the two other members of the Big 3, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, have produced in their respective careers.

Still, the Murcia-born star isn’t as keen on going after the on-court records as he is to inculcate in himself the humane values Nadal has lived by:

“For the young people who come after him, it was a good fortune to be able to live through Rafa’s, Federer’s and Djokovic’s era, who is still playing. The fight between these three gladiators. If we do not reach their level I do not want it to be a frustration. I will try to give my best every day.

“If at the end of my career, I have half of what he has done, I will leave more than happy. It’s going to be difficult to follow what these beasts have done. Rafa Nadal has been one of the great ambassadors of tennis. I don’t want to think that I have to follow his legacy. The way he has gone has been incredible. He put tennis at the top. I have lived it in an exciting way, it is difficult.

“My dream has always been to be number one in the world, to be a professional, to win Grand Slams. A big part of that dream has been thanks to Rafa, someone I have admired, he has shown how important life is, to be a good player and a good person. That there is no point in achievements on the court if you are not a good person and have a good environment.”

“He has squeezed everything he had”

Nadal’s career officially began in 2001 but he picked up the racquet as a three-year-old, taking lessons from his uncle and long-time coach Toni. He amassed a staggering 103 titles, including 22 at the Majors, 39 at the ATP Masters 1000, and two at the Olympics (singles and doubles).

The 38-year-old failed to pick up more trophies after winning the French Open in June 2022 as the 2023 season saw him get sidelined due to a hip injury. In 2024, he fought for glory in Brisbane, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Paris (French Open and Olympics), Bastad (reached final), and Malaga, at last, but couldn’t succeed.

In Carlos Alcaraz’s words, Nadal fought to the last ounce before waving to the stands one final time as a player.

“When I heard him speak, I remembered when I was little and saw him winning everywhere, I said that someday I was going to be like him and be where he was,” Alcaraz said at Davis Cup. “It’s sad, everything has a beginning and an end, you have to enjoy the process and the stage, enjoy this retirement that he deserves more than anyone. He has squeezed everything he had in the energy tank until the end. It is sad to see him go, but we have to accept it.”

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