Rafael Nadal addresses concerns over Carlos Alcaraz after Miami exit

Carlos Alcaraz’s season couldn’t have started much better, but recently, things have started to level out.

The Spaniard opened the year by reeling off 16 straight wins. He completed the ‘Career Grand Slam’ at the Australian Open, then added the Qatar Open title soon after.

That streak ended in Indian Wells, where Daniil Medvedev took him down 6-3, 7-6 in the semis.

Alcaraz responded with a win over Joao Fonseca in his Miami opener. But just when it seemed like he was back on track, he fell to Sebastian Korda in the third round of the Miami Open.

Rafael Nadal has weighed in on Alcaraz’s recent stretch. The 22-time Grand Slam champion and fellow Spaniard told Marca:

Nadal added that “what [Alcaraz] has done so far is incredible”, before continuing:

Rafael Nadal says he is not worried about Carlos Alcaraz after recent defeats

Nadal, who stepped away from tennis in 2024, spoke about Alcaraz’s recent results while at the Paraninfo of the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

“We’re not going to worry about two defeats, they don’t make any sense,” Nadal told Spanish outlet MARCA.

“It is giving successes to Spanish sport difficult to imagine 30 years ago. I never lose the perspective of what everything he does means. We are not going to worry about the two defeats.”

Nadal continued: “Everyone, no matter how successful you are, has the right to be frustrated or tired one day.”

“I think he, when he is seen, would have preferred not to externalise it. He may not have liked to look like this, but it’s understandable.

After his early exit in Miami, Alcaraz is set for some time away from competition. The World No 1 said he will return home to Murcia for rest and family time before getting back into action.

The Spaniard will likely return for the Monte-Carlo Masters, which is due to begin on April 5.

Rafael Nadal backs Carlos Alcaraz to recover

Nadal’s perspective is fair and measured. Back-to-back losses can be concerning for some, but Alcaraz isn’t just any player.

He’s proven himself at the top level, and these results are likely just a short-term dip rather than anything more serious.

The upcoming clay-court season gives him a good chance to reset. He’s always looked comfortable on that surface, and a strong showing there would quickly put any concerns to rest.

The early Miami exit also gives him extra time to prepare for what’s coming. That could be an advantage, especially since he has 4,330 ATP ranking points to defend during the clay swing.

Alcaraz had an impressive run last year in this part of the calendar. He won Masters titles in Monte-Carlo and Rome, finished runner-up in Barcelona, and captured his first French Open title. If he can find that form again, there won’t be much talk about these recent defeats for long.

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