'Playing against a beast' - Rafael Nadal reacts to Carlos Alcaraz's heartwarming message

Following their match at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, Rafael Nadal responded to Carlos Alcaraz's touching message. It was the 21-year-old who defeated the 22-time Grand Slam champion in their semifinal matchup. After losing to Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal, who just said he would retire at the end of this year, was unable to advance to the Riyadh finals.  

In the two-set match, Carlos Alcaraz won the game by 6-3, 6-3. In the first game, Carlos Alcaraz broke Rafael Nadal to love, demonstrating his superiority right away. Alcaraz took a significant lead and won a long game with four deuces on Nadal's serve to take the opening set, even though Nadal steadied himself and kept it close.

Carlos Alcaraz, who views Nadal as his idol, wrote a heartfelt Instagram post after the match expressing his sincere gratitude for Nadal's lasting legacy. He shared a picture of them on the court. On October 10, 2024, Nadal said that he will play his final match for Spain in the Davis Cup alongside Alcaraz. Carlos Alcaraz discussed his triumph over Rafael Nadal in Riyadh in a post-match interview, recognizing the extraordinary work that was necessary to achieve the victory. He acknowledged the intensity of the contest and conveyed his happiness at the chance to face Nadal once more.

Rafael Nadal prasied Carlos Alcaraz

But Alcaraz swiftly took back control and broke Nadal down the line with a stunning forehand. Despite Nadal's brilliant outbursts, such as a brilliant backhand at the net, Carlos Alcaraz maintained his composure and won by a unanimous score in just 78 minutes.

Carlos Alcaraz's playing was also praised by Nadal, who called him "too good." "It was enjoyable. Carlos was too skilled. He has been playing well over the past three years, getting better every year. I made an effort. It's been a few months since I was competitive. That performance was good. Playing against a beast like him was insufficient. For me, it was a good moment. I'm overjoyed," as per Sportskeeda.

In the third-place play-off at the Six Kings Slam on October 19, Nadal will next face Novak Djokovic.