Carlos Alcaraz will practice with a young star during the off-season

Yesterday at 12:00 PM

Carlos Alcaraz's season ended earlier than expected. The young Spanish champion wanted to help Spain win the Davis Cup Finals, but the Spanish team's run in Malaga ended already on Day 1 against the Netherlands. It was a huge disappointment for all the members of the Spanish team, as the Davis Cup Finals were the last official event of Rafael Nadal's career.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion played his first singles losing to Botic van de Zandschulp, before Alcaraz defeated Tallon Griekspoor in straight sets and postponed the outcome of the tie to the decisive doubles. The Dutch pair was better in the decisive moments of the doubles and forced Spain to a really painful elimination.

Carlitos wanted to achieve prestigious results both at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and at the Davis Cup Finals, but the outcome was unsuccessful for different reasons. The 4-time Grand Slam champion was eliminated on the group stage at the ATP Finals, having been unable to play his best tennis due to a flu virus.

The 21-year-old from Murcia hoped to give Rafa one last joy before his retirement, but he showed that he still had little experience in doubles and was defeated in two tiebreaks alongside his compatriot Marcel Granollers.

The world number 3 will take a few days off before starting to practice for next season. Carlitos' 2024 has been very positive, although the Spanish ace has had several ups and downs. The 21-year-old from Murcia became the youngest ever to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year, won the Indian Wells Masters 1000 for the second year in a row, won the Beijing ATP 500 (he defeated Sinner in an amazing final) and won the silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Alcaraz's next goal will be to become more consistent during the season, so as to get closer to the first place in the ATP ranking occupied by Jannik Sinner. Carlos' ups and downs were decisive in allowing Sascha Zverev to snatch second place from him in the last tournaments of the season.

The 4-time Grand Slam champion decided to train with a young talent during the off-season. Alcaraz will carry out part of his preparation together with Jack Draper, who has experienced the best season of his young career. The British player - who defeated Carlitos at Queen's this year - reached his first semifinal in a Grand Slam tournament at the US Open.

After Spain's loss in Malaga, the former world number 1 wanted to send a really beautiful message to his illustrious compatriot Nadal: “I will try to do my best, but right now, it’s time to say, you know, just great things about Rafa, what he has done, during his career.

I think he has said everything, but, you know, the way he left tennis, it is incredible. Probably he was one of the players that put tennis, you know, in the top of sport in the top of the world. So it is just great to have had Rafa in tennis and in this period in my life.”

He also added: “There will be many more Davis, there is only one Rafa. Thanks to you I have become a professional tennis player.

It has been a blessing to be able to live your career as a child for whom you were an idol and then as a teammate! The best possible ambassador who leaves an eternal legacy.”

Despite the age difference between the two great Spanish champions, Alcaraz had the chance to play against Rafa and share some beautiful moments with him. Alcaraz and Nadal played doubles at the Paris Olympics this summer, delivering strong performances before being eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Carlitos will never forget those moments lived together with his idol, who has already identified him as his natural heir. The 21-year-old from Murcia has a very long career ahead of him and has already shown that he can become one of the best players in the history of tennis.

The world number 3 has immense talent and can play well on all surfaces, having all the shots in all areas of the court. If he manages to limit the number of injuries and have fewer drops during the year, Alcaraz could become unstoppable and overtake Sinner in the ATP ranking.

The young Spaniard is not expected to play tournaments before the 2025 Australian Open, in which he will try to improve on the quarterfinals reached in 2024 (he lost to Zverev) and win his 5th Major title. Carlos has already won Roland Garros, Wimbledon twice and the US Open in 2022.