Carlos Alcaraz He experienced with particular emotion the farewells of Rafa Nadal at the Martín Carpena in Malaga.
The Murcian, who saved the first match point for the Netherlands, could not compensate for Granollers’ physical problems in doubles and after giving his all, he surrendered to his idol.
He first did it during a press conference, where he was full of praise for him: “Rafa showed the passion with which one must live tennis. Fortunately to have him around . I wish he had arrived on the circuit earlier. I took away some unforgettable moments. Thanks to him, I wanted to be a tennis player“.
And he not only had nice words for himself, but also for the “Big Three”: “For the young people coming from behind, it was a chance to be able to experience the era of Rafa, Federer and Djokovic, which continues to play. The fight between these three gladiators. If we don’t reach their level, I don’t want it to be frustrating.“.
“I will try to give the best of myself every day. If at the end of my career I have half of what he did, I will leave more than happy. It will be difficult to follow what these beasts did,” he added.
“Rafa Nadal was one of the great ambassadors of tennis. I don’t want to think I have to follow his legacy. The way it unfolded was incredible. He put tennis at the top,” he concluded.
A few minutes later, in a message posted on social media, Alcaraz uttered the last sentence: “There will be many more Davises, Rafa, there is only one.”
“Thanks to you I became a professional tennis player. It was a chance to be able to experience your career as a child for whom you were an idol and then as another teammate! The best possible ambassador who leaves an eternal legacy,” he added in the text.
There will be many more Davises, Rafa there is only one ❤️ Thanks to you I became a professional tennis player. It was a chance to be able to experience your career as a child for whom you were an idol and then as another teammate! The best possible ambassador who leaves an eternal legacy 🙏🏻… pic.twitter.com/WFeTcgVGO5
– Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) November 20, 2024