/sportsinfo/media/member_avatars/image 59.png)
Follow Us/sportsinfo/media/media_files/2025/02/20/X0YD2bK4ExnV881E6o7B.jpg)
Carlos Alcaraz high five Photograph: (Instagram)
Tennis No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz and Luca Nadi played at the Qatar Open in Doha. The round 16 matches happened at the centre court and the Spanish tennis player was back after winning the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam against Alex de Minaur.
The Spaniard hasn't won any ATP titles since 2024 October and played with a lot of confidence during the match. Alcaraz was on a good run at the 2025 Australian Open Grand Slam before being defeated by Novak Djokovic in the quarter-final game.
The 17-time ATP winner is now playing in the 2025 Qatar Open tournament in Doha. This is an ATP 500 event, so many star players like Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Alex De MInaur, Danii Medvedev, and Andrey Rublev are playing in the tournament.
In the Round 16 match, Alcaraz faced Luca Nardi and easily won the first set by 6-1 but in the second set Luca surprised him with 4-6 and in the third and final round the Spaniard gave it all and defeated Luca Nardi by 6-3 and progressed into the quarter-finals.
WATCH: Luca Nardi's scary drop shot against Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos and Luca are childhood friends and have been playing since they were 10. So facing Luca is nothing new for the Spaniard and at the same time he didn't show any overconfidence. Luca Nardi stunned Carlos during the match with an outstanding drop shot that earned Alcaraz's respect.
Luca Nardi with A FOWARD FACING TWEENER against Carlos Alcaraz in Doha.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 19, 2025
But that wasn’t even the best part.
That drop shot was absolutely filthy.
Carlos gives him a high-five.
Magician at work. 🪄😮💨
pic.twitter.com/PFlKBVPMVe
The Spanish player served and Nardi returned, in return Alcaraz pushed the ball further into Luca Nardi’s body but the Italian responded with an outstanding defence shot played between his legs. Then to the Spaniard's surprise, Nardi placed a drop shot wide and front.
Alcaraz ran towards the ball but he could only play the ball after a double bounce. Nardi gave a mini apology for winning and Carlos was very impressed with the shot and even went to give him a high five. That is the beauty of tennis, even if a player loses the game he never fails to appreciate his opponent's incredible gameplay. Carlos Alcaraz will now face Jiri Lechka in the round of 8.
Also Watch: Carlos Alcaraz and Jimmy Butler describe each other with funny names