Carlos Alcaraz - Is the big master's exam canceled?
Carlos Alcaraz is about to defend his title in Madrid. Rafael Nadal, on the other hand, continues to have big problems.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: May 06, 2023, 07:35 am
Borns Coric is an old fox, at least compared to a man like Carlos Alcaraz. And of course Coric knew exactly yesterday: oops, someone's celebrating a birthday, especially a low round, plus the expectant home crowd - the nervousness factor could play a role.
Then he did too. Alcaraz made a few decisions that were unusually bad for him and occasionally made a frame ball. But not for long. Because once again Alcaraz managed to shift up at least one gear as the match progressed. Which was strongly reminiscent of the man against whom Carlos Alcaraz recently lost a match on clay in Spain: Rafael Nadal.
Nadal not set high at Roland Garros
That was in 2021, a year later Alcaraz was able to take revenge on the old master. Since then, the two have not met on the ATP tour. And after Nadal's cancellation for the 1000 in Rome, you have to ask yourself: will this duel ever happen again?
Should Nadal, however, decide to start at Roland Garros after all, then a meeting with his younger compatriot would not be out of the question. Because Alcaraz will be seeded high, Nadal probably somewhere around 20. With the right draw and the course of the tournament, that could result in a match in round three or in the round of 16.
However, the subjunctive is mandatory. That would be the big master test for Carlos Alcaraz: namely to defeat Rafael Nadal on the Philippe-Chatrier court.
Here is the individual tableau in Madrid
madrid map