Carlos Alcaraz Ignores Tough Rafael Nadal Loss: “Let’s move on.”

After two hours of play at The Netflix Slam in Las Vegas on Sunday night, Rafael Nadal, the younger Spaniard, won 3-6, 6-4, 14-12. The spectators got what they came for, with a fantastic atmosphere and plenty of explosive points from two Majors champions.

Carlos made light of his wish to forget their initial encounter as he reviewed his three official bouts against Rafa prior to the contest. On the young gun’s eighteenth birthday, three years ago, Nadal and Alcaraz faced each other in the second round of the domestic Madrid Masters!

Rafa defeated a teenager 6-1, 6-2 in an hour and sixteen minutes, and he had no desire in offering Carlos any presents on the court (he got the cake after the duel). In the opening round, Carlos defeated Adrian Mannarino, taking the world no.

34 in the second set and surpassing Rafa himself to become the youngest player to win in Madrid!

Alcaraz, despite a strong start, was unable to duplicate that performance against the four-time Caja Magica winner due to an early stomach muscle issue that limited him to just three games.

After dropping 13 points in eight service games, Nadal took one break but overcame it with a resounding comeback game. Against a helpless opponent, Rafa captured 63 percent of the return points, converting them into five breaks and dictating the scoreboard.

After inviting over thirty unforced errors from his youthful opponent, Rafael Nadal finished with 13 wins and 8 unforced errors, requiring nothing more. Carlos found it difficult to showcase his exceptional talent and take on one of the greatest players in the world, while Rafa handled everything in the shortest and mid-range exchanges.

Rafael Nadal defeated Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets in Madrid 2021.

Carlos made a strong start and placed three deep returns to earn a break chance in the first game, continuing where he left off against Mannarino.

The youngster sprayed a forehand mistake before Rafa closed the game with a service winner. Nadal drew Alcaraz’s mistake in the second game, securing an early break and moving in front. Carlos experienced an injury in the third game, receiving a medical timeout and falling 3-0 behind when Rafa landed a volley winner.

Nadal created three break chances in the fourth game and forced Alcaraz’s mistake in the extended exchange, earning a break at love and moving further in front after 24 minutes. Rafa cracked a forehand down the line winner in the fifth game, holding at love and forcing Carlos to serve to stay in the set.

After inviting over thirty unforced errors from his youthful opponent, Rafael Nadal finished with 13 wins and 8 unforced errors, requiring nothing more. Carlos found it difficult to showcase his exceptional talent and take on one of the greatest players in the world, while Rafa handled everything in the shortest and mid-range exchanges.

The more experienced player landed a service winner on the first, wrapping up the opener 6-1 in 36 minutes and gaining a boost.

Nadal broke at 30 at the beginning of the second set after Alcaraz’s forehand error and held for 2-0. Carlos struggled behind the initial shot again in the third game, netting a forehand and experiencing another break. Alcaraz finally stepped in on the return in the fourth game, hitting a smash winner at the net and pulling one break back.

Rafa recovered his strokes instantly, creating three break chances in the fifth game and converting the first with a thrilling forehand down the line return winner. Firing from all cylinders, Nadal landed a backhand crosscourt winner in the sixth game and closed it with a forehand down the line winner, moving 5-1 in front and forcing Alcaraz to serve to stay in the match.

Carlos held in game seven to prolong the action, and Rafa served for the win at 5-2. The older Spaniard grabbed the eighth game with a smash winner at the net, celebrating a routine win and moving into the third round. A year later, two rivals met in the Indian Wells semi-final, with the young gun pushing the veteran to the limits.

Nadal prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 after three hours and 12 minutes in challenging conditions, advancing into the title clash. Carlos had learned a lot since their first duel, winning only four points fewer than Rafa and delivering five breaks.

Rafa responded with six return games on his tally, staying focused in the decisive moments and emerging at the top. Nadal lost serve two times in the opening set and created 17 break chances! Carlos defended 14 but got broken three times, falling 6-4 behind after 66 minutes.

Alcaraz secured a break in the ninth game of the second set, seizing the seventh break opportunity and moving 5-4 in front.

In game 10, he held after the deuce, tying the score after two hours and twenty minutes.

In the decisive set, Rafa faced three break points at 2-2 but managed to save them and stay ahead. Nadal served for the victory in the following game after delivering a critical break at 4-3 with a winning volley. In game nine, Rafa delivered the game-winning serve to complete the dramatic match against his countryman.

Two months later, in two and a half hours, Carlos exacted revenge in Madrid, defeating the king of clay 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. Carlos arrived in Madrid a year after facing Rafa in just three games, demonstrating his superiority at Caja Magica by winning the tournament.

In the second set, the younger Spaniard suffered with an injury, giving up and conserving energy for the decider. Carlos defeated Rafa on clay-courts, becoming the youngest player to do it. He did this by grabbing four breaks from five opportunities and defending six of the nine break points.