Rafa Nadal-Carlos Alcaraz: the most anticipated rivalry, now in the quarterfinals of Madrid

The most desirable party is a fact already. The legend Rafael Nadal and the phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz ran today Friday, not before 4:00 pmin the quarterfinals of Mutua Madrid is open. The two idols of Caja Mágica, face to face. There is so much noise around, with the more normalcy that the stars bring to it, knowing where everyone is before the appointment.

“I see it naturally. It was a generational change and that has happened throughout history and thank God someone like him came ”, announced Nadal, who declined to describe the rivalry:“ If I was ten years younger we could talk about about rivalry, but I have 36. I no longer live in this kind of rivalry. my rivals Djokovic, Federer, Murray in his time ”.

Nadal has successfully spent his long and successful career, at the height of the sport’s most extraordinary legends. Alcaraz entered like thunder with professionals who expressed his quality and also a charisma that spread through the stands. There are many common denominators in between Rafa and Carlitos, who has been looking at his idol since he was a child. Although each goes their own way, avoid comparisons.

“Alcaraz is better than me now and I have a very good dynamic and I am aware of what is there. I will be realistic even if I try. But she is better than me now. It has the energy of the moment. And in that sense, he starts with an advantage, though I will do everything to win. What matters to me is not who is better on Friday but in three weeks ”, he comes Roland Garros.

The antecedent of Manolo Santana Stadium for Alcaraz’s 18th birthday (on Thursday it was 19), when Nadal prevailed 6-1 and 6-2 against a resounding youth who had grown up heavily in twelve months, establishing himself in the elite. More hints gave Balearic’s victory against Murcian in the ‘semis’ of Indian Wells, 6-4, 4-6 and 6-3. In that duel Rafa had already experienced breathing problems, the stress crack in the left third rib. That left him a month and a half out after winning the titles Melbourne, Australian Open and Acapulco. He removed his preparation in clay, his participation in Monte Carlo and the Gothic.

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If “justillo” came to his reappearance in Madrid, the round of 16 marathon against the Belgian would not have helped him David Goffin. Yes, the victory coming back from four balls against the tiebreak was epic, but I could save energy if I closed in two sets. He has two points to do so, with 5-3 and 5-4. He won 6-3, 5-7 and 7-6 (9), in another victory made over Nadal. But the subsequent strain expressed pain in his injured left leg. “There’s no cure,” he recalled. Another ballast against a Carlos Alcaraz champion Rio, Miami and the Godó, undefeated in his last seven against ATP.

There is a cake and a song for her birthday. The party was complete as he led the elaborate British southpaw Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-7 (4) and 6-3 in 2h.39 ‘. “I enjoyed everything against Nadal. Let’s see if, as the saying goes, the third chance is the charm. I will fight to the end, “he promised.

The best of the Spaniards will meet in the semifinals against the Serbian Novak Djokovic or the polish Hubert Hurkaczwhich opens the day at 2:00 pm

RTVE is programming the Nadal-Alcaraz duel A1, when it broadcast the battles on Teledeporte or on its website. Also Movistar+ follow the contest on television. You can learn all about the game live on Sports world website.

The program this Friday

Manolo Santana Stadium

(2:00 pm)
Novak Djokovic (Srb/1) -Hubert Hurkacz (Po/12)
(not before 4:00 pm)
Rafa Nadal (Sp/3) -Carlos Alcaraz (Sp/7)
(not before 8:00 pm)
Andrey Rublev (Rus/6) -Stefanos Tsitsipas (Gr/4)
Felix Auger-Aliassime (Can/8) -Alexander Zverev (Ale/2)