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Carlos Alcaraz Fear Looms Large in Rafael Nadal’s Camp as Uncle Makes Vulnerable Statement Ahead of Nephew’s Comeback

Published Jul 27, 2023 | 7:43 AM EDT

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via Reuters

This year’s French Open missed its favorite, Rafael Nadal after the Spaniard withdrew from the clay-court major owing to his injuries. Recurring injuries since last year have taken a toll on the 38-year-old Spanish tennis legend. However, he is also aware that he can not push himself for too long. Thus, he announced this year that his 2024 French Open run would probably be his last major clay-court swing.

However, we have also seen the rise of another Spanish player, Carlos Alcaraz who has raised the bar by defeating none other than Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon. Now, the concern of Rafael Nadal’s uncle Toni Nadal regarding the 22-Grand Slam champion’s comeback has turned to Carlos Alcaraz.

Carlos Alcaraz becomes the major concern in the comeback of Rafael Nadal

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The 20-year-old Alcaraz has found constant comparisons between himself and Rafael Nadal. Nonetheless, he has continued his strife to become better than before. Proving that, he took down Serbian tennis legend, Novak Djokovic in the finals of Wimbledon.

Now, this feat has become a concern for Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach. He feels this rise of Alcaraz poses a challenge for Nadal’s 2024 comeback. In an interview with Marca, he addressed a question about Rafa’s health. He answered, “Rafa is fine, on vacation, wanting to jump on the court in 2024.” However, he also displayed apprehension regarding Alcaraz’s run, “Let’s hope that Alcaraz will let us win something then.”

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USA Today via Reuters

Rafael Nadal has announced that the 2024 French Open is probably going to be his final year on the professional tour. His uncle reiterated that and stated, “He is looking forward to coming back and retiring on the track.

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Given the rising performance of Alcaraz, Toni Nadal’s concerns are valid. But John McEnroe’s brother also posed an important question recently.

Will Alcaraz be able to continue this streak?

Carlos Alcaraz has been hailed as the next best player in the ATP realm after the ‘Big Three’. However, Patrick McEnroe has questioned his longevity.

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In a podcast, The Jim Row Show, McEnroe hailed Alcaraz’s run. However, he also highlighted the fact that he would need to take care of his health to maintain this streak. Giving an example from the NFL, he compared Alcaraz to a running back, but he also wondered how long is he going to last. Do you think Alcaraz can persevere like the ‘Big Three’ and touch the count of 20 Grand Slam titles? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Shivali Sharma

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Shivali Sharma is a tennis writer at EssentiallySports, who specializes in off-court topics and has a particular focus on the legendary ‘Queen of the Court’, Serena Williams. With a wealth of experience in the industry, Shivali has authored numerous articles covering varied topics concerning the 23-time Grand Slam champion, including her personal life, career, and more. In addition to her work on Serena Williams, Shivali is also a huge fan of Naomi Osaka and admires the four-time Major winner, particularly for her advocacy for mental health.
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Edited by:

Mitali Dey