July 19th 2024.
Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, is currently competing in Bastad before heading to the Olympics. Meanwhile, his fellow Spaniard and rising star, Carlos Alcaraz, was recently asked to name the greatest tennis player of all time. To everyone's surprise, he chose Novak Djokovic over his own mentor, Rafael Nadal, citing Djokovic's impressive stats.
Despite this, Alcaraz and Nadal will team up for the Olympic doubles event in Paris, starting on July 27. Nadal, who is 38 years old, had nothing but praise for his 21-year-old compatriot after his recent victory over Djokovic at Wimbledon, securing his second consecutive title. Alcaraz has always looked up to Nadal as one of his biggest sporting heroes, but he humbly admitted that Djokovic's achievements have surpassed Nadal's, making him the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) in his opinion.
In a video posted by the ATP Tour, Alcaraz was asked a series of questions, including who he believes is the greatest player of all time. The young star seemed uneasy with the question, and the interviewer, Sharky, even joked that he "panicked." But Sharky insisted on getting an answer, and Alcaraz finally admitted that Djokovic has the edge over Nadal in terms of Grand Slam titles.
However, Alcaraz quickly added that Federer and Nadal are also at the top of his list, emphasizing his love and admiration for his fellow Spaniard. Currently, Nadal is competing in the Swedish Open with his partner, Casper Ruud, as they prepare for the Olympic tournament. Meanwhile, Alcaraz received a playful tease from another Nadal fan, Norwegian player Casper Ruud, for "partying" on Wednesday.
Nadal believes that if Alcaraz can avoid significant injuries, he has the potential to become one of the greatest players in history, having already won Wimbledon and the French Open this year. The "King of Clay" has high hopes for the young star, stating that he could dominate on all surfaces, just like Jannik Sinner. Nadal also believes that Alcaraz has an aura of being the favorite in every tournament he enters, something that even the Big Three (Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic) did not have in their era.
The 21-year-old has already achieved major success on all surfaces, winning the US Open in 2022, the French Open in 2024, and back-to-back Wimbledon titles in the last two years. Nadal is confident that Alcaraz's talent and determination will continue to propel him to greatness, as long as he stays healthy and focused. The future looks bright for the young Spanish star, and Nadal is proud to have him as a teammate and mentee.
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