Rafael Nadal’s exquisite comeback match ends in defeat. Victorious Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas

Rafa Nadal defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the much awaited Netflix Slam match, winning 3-6 6-4 7-6 (14–12) in front of a sell-out audience in Las Vegas. Despite having injury concerns going into the match at the Michelob Ultra Arena, neither player appeared to be having any physical difficulties in a dramatic match. Both players reportedly received a salary of approximately £1 million for their appearances, but Alcaraz, who was sidelined by an ankle ailment during the Rio Open last month, overcame doubts about his fitness to win.

Pitted against the youthful pretender, a 37-year-old who started faster, was the Spanish legend. He held serve to begin play, and the world No. 2 gave Nadal early control when he meekly double faulted in the following game, earning a break point.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion was still in control when, at 3-1 and 30-30, Alcaraz blew a chance by taking too long with his forehand. After winning 5-2, Nadal properly held and then spontaneously stated, “I’m playing much better than expected,” in a live interview on Netflix in between games. “I love the amazing crowd here.”

The current Wimbledon winner subsequently held to stay in the set, but Nadal showed no signs of slowing down as he won the following game and the opening set, 6-3, by smashing down three aces. However, 17 years younger than his renowned opponent, Alcaraz, raised the stakes early in the second.
He earned three break points at 1-0, and Nadal double-failed under duress this time. With his movement looking much better now, at 3-0 he had Nadal inside 0-30, only for the ‘King of Clay’ to come back and win four straight points.

In the subsequent game, he forced a deuce, but Alcaraz remained composed. Then, trailing 4-1, Nadal, making an impression in his first encounter back since the January Brisbane Open, once more mustered all of his fighting spirit to save three break points, and a forehand smash saved the match in the second set. Then, at 5-3 Alcaraz, the scales moved once again as Nadal secured the vital break.
However, Alcaraz took the lead in the following game thanks to a brilliant drop shot, and he then made sure to tie the score with a cunning forehand. This resulted in a decisive 10-point tiebreaker, and as the players emerged for the shoot-out, the crowd erupted in excitement.

However, there was a delay while medical personnel treated to a spectator, which increased the tension. Soon after, play picked back up, with Alcaraz taking the first mini-break and serving first to take a 3-1 lead.
However, the lead did not last long as the two players traded blows. A string of line challenges did little more than increase the noise level of the crowd until a supposedly pivotal moment arrived at 7-7.
Alcaraz had a great opening because to a terrible mishit from Rafael Nadal, but Nadal won the next point and then a stunning forehand passing stroke tied the score at 9-9. That eventually turned into a 12-12 game, but Alcaraz then won a sixth match chance and put a stop to things when Nadal went long.