Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal wrote Spanish tennis historical past within the season behind us. The duo claimed three Main titles, main the rating and ending within the top-2 as the primary pair from the identical nation since Pete Sampras and Michael Chang in 1996.
Alcaraz is the youngest year-end no. 1 participant, and Nadal is the oldest year-end top-2 participant, writing historical past books and hoping for extra in 2023. The Spaniards would be the high seeds on the upcoming Australian Open, with a potential title conflict.
Nadal and Alcaraz have organized an exhibition match, going through one another on March 5, 2023, at Las Vegas MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment forward of Indian Wells. Nadal promoted the occasion, saying he’s excited to go to Las Vegas and compete towards his compatriot.
Becoming the venue, the encounter will get a boxing-style identify of “The Slam: Nadal vs. Alcaraz” and may deliver many tennis followers to Las Vegas. Nadal and Alcaraz have met 3 times on the Tour, with the veteran successful two matches.
Their first duel got here in Madrid final yr, and Nadal misplaced solely three video games towards the 17-year-old who received injured within the early phases.
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz will play in Las Vegas on March 5, 2023.
So much has modified since then, and Carlos grew to become one of many world’s main gamers lower than 12 months later.
Carlos and Rafa educated collectively forward of this yr’s Indian Wells and met within the semi-final. The conflict went right down to the wire, and Nadal prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 after three hours and 12 minutes for a spot within the title conflict.
Carlos served revenge at Caja Magica two months later, beating Rafa for the primary time following a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 victory in two hours and 28 minutes. Alcaraz confirmed no signal of nerves towards a 21-time Main winner in entrance of the house followers.
The teenager fired virtually 40 winners and bounced again after the second set to ship his first victory over the king of clay. Carlos damage his ankle within the second set and let it go, not losing vitality forward of the decider.
Alcaraz made a contemporary begin within the decider and managed the scoreboard with courageous strokes. A teen constructed the benefit and fired an unbelievable forehand down the road winner in recreation 9 to seal the deal and discover himself within the semi-final.
Hey Las Vegas!!! 👋
I’m completely satisfied to announce that I’ll be enjoying @CarlosAlcaraz at THE SLAM, a particular one-night match hosted by @MGMRewards. #MGMTheSlamWhen? March fifth, 2023 @MGMGrand
See you there? 😉https://t.co/kmWC03coch pic.twitter.com/h3biRBDb18 — Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) December 6, 2022
