After beginning the yr on a excessive, Carlos Alcaraz has misplaced two of his final three matches.
Rafael Nadal has had his say after Carlos Alcaraz misplaced early in Miami (Picture: Getty)
Carlos Alcaraz began the 2026 season on a excessive, finishing the profession Grand Slam on the Australian Open, after which profitable the ATP 500 occasion in Doha. He went unbeaten throughout his first 16 matches of the yr earlier than his run lastly ended within the Indian Wells semi-finals, the place he was ousted by Daniil Medvedev.
Then, the world No. 1 suffered a shock early defeat on the Miami Open, profitable only one match earlier than shedding to Sebastian Korda. It’s the second successive yr that Alcaraz has had a disappointing run on the Arduous Rock Stadium – 12 months in the past, he misplaced his opening match to David Goffin.
Following his 16-match profitable streak to begin the season, Alcaraz has now misplaced two of his final three matches. The 22-year-old broke to remain within the match when Korda served for it in set two, and even compelled a decider. However the world No. 36 held his nerve to say a 6-3 5-7 6-4 victory, whereas Alcaraz seemed flustered and continued exchanging phrases together with his workforce all through the match.
Nonetheless, fellow Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal believes Alcaraz’s current defeats aren’t any trigger for concern. The retired 22-time Grand Slam champion was quizzed over Alcaraz’s third-round exit in Miami, and bluntly mentioned there was nothing to fret about.
“I imply, when he’s simply come off profitable the Australian Open, he’s received seven Grand Slams, he’s No. 1 on the planet… So, what? Is he imagined to win all the matches of the yr? That’s by no means going to occur. So there’s your reply,” Nadal mentioned, addressing the media after he obtained an honorary doctorate from the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid.
A former world No. 1, Olympic gold medallist, and multi-Grand Slam champion, Nadal is aware of higher than anybody what it’s to take care of the strain and expectation of being Spain’s high tennis star. And the 39-year-old desires the tennis world to put off Alcaraz.
Carlos Alcaraz has misplaced two of his final three matches (Picture: Getty)
“Are we actually going to fret about two defeats? I don’t suppose so. That doesn’t make sense, and we shouldn’t demand extra from him,” he added. “I feel what all of us must do is simply congratulate Carlos and thank him for all the things that he’s carrying out.
“Ultimately, he’s bringing a variety of achievements to Spanish sport that, possibly 25 or 30 years in the past, we wouldn’t have imagined. Possibly we’ve all gotten too used to it. However I’ve by no means misplaced perspective on how tough the issues are that Carlos is doing – or any athlete from Spain, or some other nation.”
Whereas Alcaraz misplaced early in Miami, one in all Nadal’s proteges is inflicting a stir on the Arduous Rock Stadium. World No. 151 Martin Landaluce, a Rafa Nadal Academy alum, has come by means of qualifying to achieve his first tour-level quarter-final. The Spaniard took out two top-20 seeds, Luciano Darderi and Karen Khachanov, after which surprised Alcaraz’s conqueror, Korda, within the fourth spherical.
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And the 20-year-old qualifier credit Nadal and the academy for his success. Landaluce defined: “I have been coaching at Rafa’s place since I used to be 14, so I’ve undoubtedly adopted a part of his mentality, particularly that usually Spanish combating spirit. The actual fact of observing him, enjoying with him, speaking and receiving his recommendation, but additionally seeing him practice every single day, all of that has left an enormous mark on me.”
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