When it comes to tennis in Spain, Rafael Nadal stands as the ultimate standard. With a record-setting 22 Grand Slam titles and an unparalleled dominance on clay, the 14-time Roland Garros champion has set milestones that many believe are untouchable. Enter Carlos Alcaraz—a 21-year-old phenom who has already captured a Grand Slam and ascended to the top of the ATP rankings, sparking hopes of a new era for Spanish tennis.
Since his early days on the ATP Tour, Alcaraz has showcased extraordinary promise. In 2022, he made history by defeating Casper Ruud in the U.S Open final, to claim his first Grand Slam title at just 19 years old, becoming the youngest player to achieve the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings.
However, when it comes to matching Nadal’s records, Alcaraz remains grounded. Acknowledging the enormity of Nadal’s legacy, he admitted in an interview with MARCA that such achievements are virtually insurmountable.
“Yes,” Alcaraz said when asked if he views Nadal’s accomplishments as unreachable. “What Rafa has done on clay is the greatest thing in sports—not just in tennis. Winning 14 Roland Garros titles, 11 times in Monte Carlo, including eight in a row—that’s unbelievable. Only people who are out of this world can achieve that”.
Rafael Nadal (L) and partner Carlos Alcaraz of Team Spain celebrate victory against Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez during the 2024 Olympics. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Following his victory over Lorenzo Musetti at the Monte–Carlo Masters, Alcaraz had echoed a similar sentiment. “I hope to win this title more than once. Thinking about 11? That’s impossible, honestly,” he admitted. “I’ve talked to my team about what Rafa achieved on clay. It’s one of the toughest accomplishments in sports—not just in tennis”.
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Bjorn Borg sees greatness in Alcaraz
Ahead of the Barcelona Open, tennis legend Bjorn Borg expressed confidence in Alcaraz’s potential during an interview with RTVE. Borg boldly stated that the young Spaniard might even eclipse Nadal’s legacy.
“I believe that Alcaraz will achieve the same or more than Nadal,” Borg declared. “He has the right mentality and can play on all surfaces. With a bit of luck, he will be the king of tennis”.
Fernando Verdasco thinks it’s ‘almost Impossible’
Not everyone is as optimistic as Borg. Former Spanish star Fernando Verdasco aligns with Alcaraz in acknowledging the improbability of matching Nadal’s achievements.
“I am often asked if Alcaraz will win as many Grand Slams as Nadal. What I can say is that it is almost impossible,” Verdasco told L’Équipe earlier this year. “Winning 22 majors—it’s hard to overstate what that represents. You’d need to win two or three every year throughout your career. Any injury, operation, or physical issue complicates that significantly”.
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