Indian Wells: Nadal vs Alcaraz - a battle of the present versus future
The HinduTen months ago, when Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, on his 18th birthday, played against his idol and arguably his country’s greatest ever tennis player Rafael Nadal for the first time in the second round of the Madrid Masters, Nadal decimated him to clinch a 6-1, 6-2 win in an hour and 18 minutes. Coached by Juan Carlos Ferrero, a former world number one from Spain, right-handed Alcaraz has an explosive style of play and his quick movement on the court has often drawn comparisons with a younger Nadal. Alcaraz is six foot one inch tall, the same height as Nadal and lately, his match outfits, sleeveless tops, are a reminder of the younger self of the 21-time Grand Slam champion from Mallorca. Alcaraz, who became the second-youngest semifinalist at Indian Wells after beating defending champion Cameron Norrie of Great Britain 6-4, 6-3, is ready for the challenge against Nadal.