After a strong start to the season, Carlos Alcaraz has come back down to earth.
The Spaniard won 16 consecutive matches to start the year, completing the ‘Career Grand Slam’ at the Australian Open before capturing the Qatar Open title.
Alcaraz’s superb run was ended in Indian Wells by Daniil Medvedev, who beat the Spaniard 6-3, 7-6 in the semi-finals.
Which member of the ‘Big Three’ is Carlos Alcaraz most similar to? Let us know why below👇
The 22-year-old bounced back well, beating Joao Fonseca in his opening Miami match.
However, he was then stunned by Sebastian Korda in the Miami Open third round.
Rafael Nadal, Alcaraz’s compatriot and a 22-time Grand Slam champion, has offered his take on Alcaraz’s recent form.
Rafael Nadal says he is not worried about Carlos Alcaraz after recent defeats
Nadal, who retired from his playing career in 2024, revealed his thoughts on Alcaraz’s Indian Wells and Miami results while speaking to reporters at the Paraninfo of the Polytechnic University of Madrid.
“We’re not going to worry about two defeats, they don’t make any sense,” Nadal said, as reported by Spanish outlet MARCA.
“It is giving successes to Spanish sport difficult to imagine 30 years ago. I never lose the perspective of what everything he does means. We are not going to worry about the two defeats.
“Everyone, no matter how successful you are, has the right to be frustrated or tired one day,” Nadal added.
“I think he, when he is seen, would have preferred not to externalize it. He may not have liked to look like this, but it’s understandable.
“When you come from winning the Australian Open, you are the number one in the world, what happens? Who is going to win all the games of the year?
“Well, it’s not going to happen. We all have to congratulate and thank Carlos for what he is doing.”
After exiting Miami early, the Spaniard is set for an extended break away from competitive play.
After losing to Korda, the Spaniard revealed his plans to return to his home in Murcia to recuperate and spend time with his family.
The Spaniard will likely return for the Monte-Carlo Masters, which is due to begin on April 5.
| Tournament | Result | Opponent | Score |
| Australian Open | Champion | Novak Djokovic | 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 7–5 |
| Qatar Open | Champion | Arthur Fils | 6–2, 6–1 |
| Indian Wells | SF | Daniil Medvedev | 3–6, 6–7 |
| Miami Open | R32 | Sebastian Korda | 3-6, 7-5, 4–6 |
Rafael Nadal is correct
Nadal is absolutely correct in his assessment.
Losing two matches in three would be troublesome for most players; but not for Carlos Alcaraz.
Alcaraz has more than proven his worth on the Tour in recent years, and his recent losses represent a mere blip, rather than a deeper issue.
The Spaniard will surely bounce back during the clay-court swing, which is a crucial period of his campaign.
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And after exiting Miami early, he now has extra time to prepare for the intensity of the clay-court swing, during which he is defending 4,330 ATP ranking points.
Last year, Alcaraz won Masters events in Monte-Carlo and Rome, finished runner-up in Barcelona, and won the French Open.
