Alcaraz ignore Rafael Nadal to avoid hindering career

Another top Spanish tennis player? Richard Krajicek urged Carlos Alcaraz to focus on his own game, rather than emulating Rafael Nadal.
Carlos Alcaraz must ignore the comparisons to fellow Spanish tennis great Rafael Nadal otherwise it will “hinder his career”.

That was the message from former Dutch player Richard Krajicek, who won the Wimbledon men’s singles title back in 1996.

Alcaraz triumphed at Wimbledon last year as well, his second major title after winning the US Open in 2022.

Though veteran Nadal has some 22 grand slam titles to his name, two behind the ever-reliant and ruthless Novak Djokovic, comparisons continue to be drawn between the two Spaniards.

“If he starts to think about it or live up to it or try to beat it, then it will hinder his career,” Krajicek said of the similarities between Nadal and Alcaraz.

“His name is Carlos Alcaraz, he said it himself and he’s not the new Nadal. Nadal is a legend and he’s going to do what he has to do.

“I think by winning two grand slams, being number one, I don’t think he feels any pressure or like, ‘I have to do this or this’. He’s improved already so much.

“I don’t think he has too much to prove and he’s just playing for the love of the game and he’s going to win many more Grand Slams and he will be number one for many weeks also.”

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VAMOS! @BNPPARIBASOPEN

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— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) March 9, 2024
An athletic, bustling right-hander Alcaraz has the pure power, mixed with delicate control, to trouble major-title contenders for the next decade or so.

However, Krajicek says it is Alcaraz’s passion for the sport that is most impressive.

“I like everything about this game. I mean, he’s physically good, he’s fast, I love his mentality on the court. Also like Rafa, very humble person, and he can do it all,” he added.

“He can play, he plays from the base, and he’s got a big forehand, he’s got a very good touch on the drop shot. He can volley. Yeah, and he really loves the game.

“When he played the US Open and it was a really important point, and they were playing for number one in the world. It was one set all, Alcaraz loses the point, but the point was unbelievable, and Alcaraz smiled to his box ‘Wow, I just played a great point and I love this game’.

“So for me, then I became a fan. I’m like, ‘Wow, you really love this game’. So that’s so great to see.”