MALAGA, Spain — Carlos Alcaraz has stated Rafael Nadal’s legacy in tennis is “everlasting” and stated it’s virtually not possible to observe in his footsteps.
Nadal retired from the game after Spain misplaced to the Netherlands of their Davis Cup quarterfinal tie on Tuesday.
The 38-year-old opened the tie however misplaced to Botic van de Zandschulp in singles 6-4, 6-4. Alcaraz then defeated Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (0), 6-3 to take it to a showdown within the doubles for a spot within the semifinals. However Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers misplaced to Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3), that means Nadal was ushered into retirement.
Nadal introduced final month he was going to retire from the game after this Davis Cup. He felt his physique’s limitations meant he might not attain the aggressive degree he needed. However he leaves behind an astonishing legacy, having received 22 males’s singles Grand Slams.
Alcaraz, 21, is firstly of his profession and has already received 4 Grand Slams. He’s broadly seen because the inheritor to Nadal’s throne however is reluctant to attract any comparability.
“I believe that he was among the best ambassadors for tennis,” Alcaraz stated of Nadal. “I imply, his legacy goes to be everlasting. You recognize, he has been nice for tennis, for this sport typically.
“Yeah, it’s tough, no less than for me. I do not need to suppose that I ought to proceed, you understand, the legacy that he has left. It’s tough, virtually not possible. I’ll attempt to do my finest, however proper now, you understand, it is time to say, you understand, simply nice issues about Rafa, what he has carried out, you understand, throughout his profession. In all probability he was one of many gamers that put tennis, you understand, within the prime of sport within the prime of the world.
“It’s simply nice to have had Rafa in tennis and, you understand, on this interval in my life.”
Spain had been favourites to beat the Netherlands and the hope was Nadal would end his profession by serving to his nation to the Davis Cup title on Sunday. However the Dutch had different concepts and introduced a untimely finish to Spain’s farewell celebration for Nadal.
Regardless of this significance hooked up to the event, Alcaraz stated he did not really feel any further stress.
“I actually needed to do it for Rafa, however I keep centered on my sport, strive not to consider, you understand, Rafa’s final event, Rafa’s final match,” Alcaraz stated.
“I did not need to give it some thought. I simply needed to assist the crew as a lot I can. I needed to attempt to, you understand, win each matches simply to maintain going, attempt to take pleasure in this week rather more, however I could not. But it surely wasn’t the additional stress that understanding it was Rafa’s final event.”
After shedding to Van de Zandschulp, Nadal stated if he was crew captain David Ferrer — if Spain progressed to the semifinals — then he’d have opted to select Roberto Bautista Agut over him for the singles.
But it surely wasn’t a dilemma Ferrer had after Spain fell. He stated he determined to start out Nadal within the singles on Monday and it was a simple name.
“It wasn’t tough,” Ferrer stated. “In the long run, I’m the captain. I resolve that the gamers that they’re going to play, and we knew that Holland, they’ve good gamers. And with this format by no means is straightforward.
“The courtroom is quicker than often on the tour. This isn’t excuse, as a result of on the finish, they deserve win the tie, and congrats. In the long run, that is sport, and, nicely, now it is a evening that we’re in fact disenchanted as a result of we play at residence with our crowd, and yeah, we’re unhappy, in fact.
“However I’m happy with my gamers. They attempt to do their finest. They compete. As I stated earlier than, that is sport. Now we have to simply accept and nothing else. And tomorrow goes to be one other day.”