21-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal will take on Carlos Alcaraz in the querterfinals of the 2022 Madrid Masters on Friday.
Rafa beat his countryman in the Madrid second round last year before making it 2-0 in their ATP Head2Head with a three-set win in the Indian Wells semifinals.
Date: May 6, 2021
Match time: Not before 4 PM local time / 10 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 3 PM BST – United Kingdom / 4 PM CEST – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / midnight AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa holds a 22-1 record on the season with Alcaraz 25-3. Our champ is No. 1 in the ATP Race To Turin, while Alcaraz is sat third. The exciting young Spaniard has indeed won two clay titles this season, but he scored still bigger success on the hard courts of Miami after losing to our champ in the semis of Indian Wells.
Carlos on playing Rafa:
“I lost twice against him and I wanted to play against him the third time. I think it’s going to be different from last year [in Madrid] and the last match that we played [in Indian Wells]. I’m excited to play against Rafa here in Madrid in front of the Spanish crowd. It’s going to be a great day and a great match.”
Rafa on Carlos:
“Well, it’s a very, very tough match, of course. I think that today, he is better than me and he has a good dynamic, a good momentum. I am conscious on what we have right now. I think I am a very realistic person, and that doesn’t take me to not believe that I can win or that I can do it, but today I think that Alcaraz is in a better physical state of mind, is more fit.
I came here without playing. He’s younger, so he has that extra energy. I’m clear who, from the beginning, has some kind of advantage in tomorrow’s match. But in that regard, I will try to do as much as possible to be competitive. Of course tomorrow’s match will try to win, but whatever the outcome is, that it’s something positive for me in the future.
Talking about rivalry, well, I don’t know. If I had 8 or 10 years less, perhaps if Carlos had reached 10 years ago this moment, we could be talking about a new potential rivalry.”
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Happy for Alcaraz. I hope his ankle is okay so that he can be at full strength tomorrow:)
Rafa did not do himself any favors in some key moments and the rust definitely showed. Today Alcaraz was way better than our champ I have to admit.
Rest up and start again next week champ!!
I like Alcaraz better when he plays on one foot:)
Third set, Rafa must not take his eyes off the prize. Stay sharp champ!!
He has given it’s all but it wasn’t to be maybe bcz it’s his first attempt but I am confident that he will win his next two tournaments
Greg Rusedski’s trotting out the “changing of the guard” line already. Come on Rafa!!
Tough first set for Rafa… getting some hard lessons. Alcaraz is punishing anything weak that Rafa sends over.
Second set is a new ballgame. Rafa needs to up his intensity or start preparing for Rome.
This will be the most challenging match of them all so far… You have a young guy with immense talent who wants this victory playing his idol…. the GOAT…. Rafa Nadal….
I have watched Rafa come from behind…have seen him turn up the heat when it looked like a loss was coming… Always thinking…always manuevering….
Good luck today… Take it to him….Mix him up….
VAMOS RAFA!!!!!
Yesterday was the 19th Birthday for Alcaraz. Last year on his 18th birthday in Madrid, Nadal demolished Alcaraz with a crushing 6-1, 6-2 victory over Alcaraz; but was still kind enough to present him a birthday cake after the match. I hope Nadal will repeat his actions of last year by not only defeating Alcaraz but also arranging a cake later on after the match.
Owing to the high altitude in Madrid, the percentage of unforced errors for all players are generally higher as the ball travels a bit quicker through the air at higher altitudes. As Alcaraz is hitting the ball harder than Nadal, he (Alcaraz) would be prone to making more unforced errors which could paly a key role in the outcome of today’s match. The other key factor is of course how quickly would Nadal recover physically after spending more than 3 hours yesterday.
Dear Rafa ,
Well done yesterday for coming through such a mentally and physically tough match after your injury break , during which you could not play or even keep fit at all .
And today an even tougher one …..
One thing I know : you will do your best and us fans are supporting you and are proud of you and love you whatever the outcome.
When we saw you in Madrid for the first game on Wednesday the magic returned into tennis ⭐️!
Thank you and Vamos Rafa ! The king of clay, The king of spin , The king of sport inside and out ! 👏👏👏
Sent from my iPad
All the best, Rafa. Kudos to Carlos Moya who reminded Mouratoglou to show “respect” to Rafa.
M. stated Rafa will not be in his “best shape” for FO.
Gonna be a tough one but let’s just say “experience matters” and remember who is King. 🙂 We will love him win or lose. Vamos Rafa!
Will be a tough match. All the best Rafa❤️