Teen sensation Carlos Alcaraz has admitted he feels “hurt” to see Rafael Nadal struggling with injury but believes that the 21-time Grand Slam champion will be “competitive again.”

Rafael Nadal has faced a number of injury setbacks this season, most notably his cracked rib sustained at the Indian Wells Masters in March which forced him to miss the majority of the European clay court swing.

Last week, the Grand Slam legend hit another injury problem as his as his long-standing foot problem flared up again during his last 16 loss to Canada’s Denis Shapovalov at the Italian Open.

The 13-time Roland Garros winner made the admission after the defeat that he wasn’t injured but was “living with an injury.”

Despite his struggles and speculation over the 35-year-old’s fitness for the Paris Slam, Nadal has made his way to the French capital for his favourite clay-court Grand Slam and will be in Thursday’s main draw.

19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, who beat his idol and compatriot in the quarter-final of the Madrid Open, discussed Rafael Nadal’s injury problems as he argued that it is painful to see the ATP veteran suffer and be hampered by injuries.

In an exclusive interview with EFE TV, the Madrid Masters champion told reporters, “Nobody likes to see Nadal like this, he is a reference for everyone and it hurts me to see him suffer while playing the sport he loves. It hurts us all.

“I know he had a few days to recover and I believe that in Paris he will be competitive again.”

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