RIYADH: In a historic clash between two of Spain’s tennis icons, rising star Carlos Alcaraz overcame his childhood idol Rafael Nadal with a 6-3, 6-4 victory on the second day of the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh.
The match, highly anticipated by tennis fans around the world, carried an emotional weight as Nadal approaches his imminent retirement and Alcaraz cements his place as one of the sport’s leading figures.
The packed stands in Riyadh erupted as Nadal entered the court, the crowd roaring in appreciation for the 22-time Grand Slam champion, who recently announced his intention to retire after the Davis Cup Finals later this year.
For Alcaraz, this was a significant encounter. Having grown up idolizing Nadal, the 21-year-old has always expressed his admiration for the tennis legend, noting the impact Nadal has had on his own career.
“This is Nadal’s moment. It is emotional for us all. I feel lucky that I get to play him for one of the last times,” Alcaraz told Arab New after the match.
The match was a mix of competitive intensity and sentimentality, with fans fully aware that this could be one of the last opportunities to see the two Spaniards face off in such a setting.
Alcaraz, now ranked world No. 2, has often been compared to Nadal, drawing parallels between their aggressive style and mental toughness.
From the outset, Alcaraz took control, breaking Nadal’s serve early in the first set to secure a 6-3 win. Despite his ongoing struggles with injuries, Nadal showed flashes of brilliance, but it was clear that the younger, faster Alcaraz was dictating the pace of the match.
The second set saw Nadal fighting hard to keep the scoreline tight, drawing on his years of experience and characteristic resilience. Still, Alcaraz’s sharp baseline play and ability to seize the crucial moments allowed him to maintain the upper hand. Closing out the set 6-4, Alcaraz sealed a decisive victory in a match that symbolized the generational shift in Spanish tennis.
In a press conference the day before, Alcaraz had acknowledged the difficulty of facing his idol, sharing, “Since I started to play tennis, I’ve been watching his matches. He was my idol, and knowing he is going to retire is tough for everyone.”
He added that 38-year-old Nadal has left an indelible mark on the sport, inspiring a new generation of players like Alcaraz, who are ready to carry the torch forward.
The Six Kings Slam, with its record-breaking prize money and elite roster, provided a fitting stage for this moment—a symbolic passing of the baton from one of tennis’s greatest icons to its future star.
As Nadal nears the end of his legendary career, Alcaraz is positioned to continue his meteoric rise, carrying forward the spirit of Spanish tennis into the next era.
