Rafael Nadal says one of the good things as he nears the end of his career is that he won’t have to face Carlos Alcaraz too often after the 37-year-old Spaniard lost to his compatriot in of the Netflix Slam exhibition match in Las Vegas on Sunday.
Nadal, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles, added that the future of Spanish tennis was in good hands with the 20-year-old. Alcaraz has already won majors at the US Open and Wimbledon and is ranked world No. 2 behind Novak Djokovic.
“It’s a good thing that as a player I won’t face him often,” said Nadal, who is expected to retire in 2024 after a series of injuries limited his appearances on tour.
“As a fan, I hope I enjoy watching it for many years to come.
“In Spain we should be very, very happy to receive someone like Carlos.
“He is an extraordinary player. He is only 20 years old and he has already won two Grand Slams and a few important tournaments.”
Nadal, who spent almost a year on the sidelines with a hip flexor injury before suffering a muscle injury earlier this season, said he felt “much better than planned” during the exhibition match.
Nadal and Alcaraz will be next in action at the Masters tournament in Indian Wells.
