Former six-time Grand Slam champion Rennae Stubbs thoroughly enjoyed watching Carlos Alcaraz take on Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic as she says the 19-year-old is ‘here to stay’ On Friday, Alcaraz scored the biggest win of his career by defeating his idol Nadal in the Madrid Masters quarterfinals.
A day later, Alcaraz got rid of world No. 1 Djokovic by defeating the Serb 6-7 (5), 7-5, 7-6 (5). Not many players have managed to beat Nadal and Djokovic in the same tournament but Alcaraz has done it. “”WHAT A MATCH”!!!!!
And this boy is here to stay for a long, long time!!! He beats 2 GOATs in a row…. I know that both Novak and Rafa are not 100% ready for matches because of the last few months etc. BUT MY GOD what a week and month he is having,” Stubbs wrote on Twitter.
Alcaraz and Djokovic began their semifinal match in Madrid at 4:00 p.m. local time. The women’s final between Ons Jabeur and Jessica Pegula was scheduled for 18:30 local time. Djokovic and Alcaraz played a brilliant match and the duel ended after three hours and 35 minutes of play.
Therefore, the women’s final began an hour and a half later than planned. “NOW, Let me double criticize, HOW FUN the women’s final doesn’t have a timeout!!!
Rafa has had a great hard-court season this year
Rafael Nadal made a resounding start to the year by winning the Melbourne Summer Set 1 without dropping a set.
He then clinched a record 21st Grand Slam title at the 2022 Australian Open. “You need to build again the confidence in your body, on your movements, then you going to start feeling again comfortable with your tennis, no? I am happy the way I started the year.
For me it has been amazing. What happened in the last two months, yes, but in the other hand I have probably the best start of a season in my tennis career at my age.” He said: “Of course, at my age, when you start having more problems than what you can manage, of course is tough without a doubt, no? But, I mean, for the moment I am happy.
It is true that I went through – again – tough period of time. That hasn’t been easy for me, being honest. But I am here. I am here to enjoy and to give myself a chance to play well here in Rome, and of course to try to be ready for Roland Garros in a couple of weeks, no?”
