Carlos Alcaraz Faces ‘Emotional’ Final Clash With Idol Rafael Nadal at Six Kings Slam 2024
Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz’s idol in tennis, is coming up, and he has called it a “difficult moment.”
Thursday’s “Six Kings Slam” exhibition match in Riyadh, where the Spanish tennis giants will play each other for the final time, will be a sentimental event for Alcaraz, who grew up idolizing Rafael Nadal.
When the Spanish superstars square off for the final time, Carlos Alcaraz said on Wednesday that it will be a “difficult moment” to play “idol” Rafael Nadal. The 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal declared last week that he will end his tennis career following the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga the following month.
But the 38-year-old will face Alcaraz on Thursday in an exhibition match in Riyadh called the “Six Kings Slam” in hopes of qualifying for the championship match. Ever since I took up tennis, I’ve been watching his matches. He is someone I admire, and I watched him grow up. “He was and still is my hero,” Alcaraz declared on the court following his 6-4, 6-2 victory over Holger Rune, which set up a tearful encounter with Nadal.
One of the main reasons I wanted to play professional tennis was because of this extremely important person in my life and career. I find it difficult because everyone is aware that he will be retiring.”
The current Wimbledon and French Open winner Alcaraz continued, saying, “I will try to enjoy sharing the court with him once again, but I think it is really difficult for everyone.”
On the main ATP Tour, Nadal and Alcaraz have faced off three times, with the soon-to-be retired veteran having a 2-1 advantage.
The Spanish duo is anticipated to collaborate once more at the Davis Cup Finals after playing doubles together at this year’s Olympics in Paris.
During the Games, Nadal also played singles on the Roland Garros courts, where he had won 14 French Open titles.
In the second round, his longtime opponent Novak Djokovic terminated his Olympic singles career.
In the other semi-final in Riyadh on Thursday, Djokovic will take on Jannik Sinner, the winner of the Australian and US Opens.
On Wednesday, world No. 1 Sinner defeated Daniil Medvedev with easily, 6-0, 6-3.
After defeating the 24-time Grand Slam champion in the Shanghai Masters final on Sunday, Sinner stated, “The semi-final against Novak will be a different match than the ones we played in the past.”
We are very familiar with one another and know what to anticipate from one another.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, but I am just trying to play the best possible tennis, and we will see how it goes.”
