Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz has revealed he is intentionally keeping his distance from compatriot Rafael Nadal.
Carlos Alcaraz, a tennis star, has confessed that he hasn’t spoken to Rafael Nadal in months. But the distance hasn’t been caused by any unpleasant emotions; rather, Alcaraz has tried to respect his countryman’s privacy since retiring from the sport.
Nadal, 38, formally retired from tennis in November after Spain was eliminated from the 2024 Davis Cup finals. The tennis star has maintained a modest profile in the aftermath, reflecting his reclusive nature.
It is a tribute to Alcaraz’s character that, despite his youth, the 21-year-old knows when to back down. Following his recent victory at the Rotterdam Open, the teenager admitted that it had been a long time since he had engaged with Spain’s most successful player.
“I have a very good relationship with Rafa, but I haven’t spoken to him again after his retirement from the Davis Cup,” he told Sport. “I think he deserves to be at peace with his family, enjoying what he could not enjoy before.
“For me, he has been and is a great reference point. I’ve seen that he congratulated me on social media, but I haven’t yet had the chance to speak with him directly. I’m sure there will come a time when we can do so.”
Last year, the two spent a lot of time together, even playing on the same squad twice. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Alcaraz won the men’s singles competition and advanced to the quarter-finals in the men’s doubles event with Rafael Nadal.
They later reassembled as part of Spain’s attempt for the Davis Cup in the autumn. However, their efforts were in vain as they were defeated by the Netherlands, who finished second to Italy.
The two look to be developing a strong friendship and professional relationship. During their time as teammates in Paris last year, Nadal joked that he couldn’t keep up with Alcaraz’s pace.
“I’ve been with Carlos for three days and I can’t take it anymore,” he said in July 2024. “We have toured the Village seven times and this boy never gets tired! Today he wanted to go take pics with badminton players and I told him to go alone, that I give up.”
While they may not have spoken for some months, one can rest assured Nadal will be cheering his compatriot on from afar. After lifting the title in Rotterdam, Alcaraz has moved his attention to the Qatar Open, where he’ll face Luca Nardi in the last 16 on Wednesday.
