'He has a thousand lives' - Carlos Alcaraz wary of Rafael Nadal quarter-final threat at Madrid Open

ByAlexander Netherton

Updated 06/05/2022 at 07:27 GMT

Carlos Alcaraz is the next big thing in Spanish tennis, and some are speculating that he might even usurp the legendary Rafael Nadal, who has 21 Grand Slams to his name. The pair are set to meet on Friday in the Madrid Open quarter-finals after winning their respective games in the last 16, and the teenager knows Nadal is a remarkably tough opponent.

Carlos Alcaraz believes he will have it all to do against Rafael Nadal in their Madrid Open quarter-final, saying his fellow Spaniard "has a thousand lives".

After a career that has taken Nadal to 21 Grand Slams at the age of 35 and still in with a chance of winning more, the former world No.1 has pulled off countless famous comebacks when he has looked dead and buried.

In his round-of-16 match-up against David Goffin, Nadal looked set to exit the tournament but managed to survive four match points to win an epic three-set match to book his place in the last eight.

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He will take on Alcaraz after the 19-year-old contender beat Cameron Norrie, also needing three sets but with much more control in the decisive third.

Nadal has already said that he believes that Alcaraz is in some ways a better player than him, and with a rib problem that kept the veteran out of training until last Thursday, this is a chance for the emerging teenager to make his way to the semi-finals.

However, speaking after the win, Alcaraz - celebrating his first birthday as a top-10 player - said that he was wary of a player with such a strong track record.

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"Honestly, I don't know,” he admitted when asked if he knew how to defeat Nadal.

“I always say he has a thousand lives. He survives in every match, in every tough match for him.”

However, Alcaraz did not think he was doomed to defeat, claiming: “I think if I have a really good game then I have chances to win."

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