Nadal wishes Alcaraz good luck, ignores Djokovic

Italy On social media, Rafael Nadal hopes his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz will play well at the ATP Finals - an event for the eight best players of the year.

"Sending you a big hug and good luck in Turin," Nadal commented on Instagram on November 10, with a strength symbol and a "high five" to Alcaraz.

The "King of Clay" sent his best wishes to his junior after watching the ATP Tour interview video of Alcaraz. The 20-year-old tennis player said that Nadal is his idol, the person who inspired him to aspire to become the world's top tennis player. Alcaraz also said that he wants to be in the same ranks as Nadal after finishing his career.

Nadal (left) and his junior Alcaraz after the quarter-final match of the Madrid Open 2022. Photo: Sport — Nadal (left) and his junior Alcaraz after the quarter-final match of the Madrid Open 2022. Photo: *Sport*

Next week, Alcaraz will make his first appearance at the ATP Finals - a tournament for the eight best players of the season. Nadal has never won the tournament and has only reached the final twice, in 2010 and 2013.

Serbian newspaper Sportal highlighted that Nadal has yet to say a single kind word to Novak Djokovic since Nole won the US Open, extending his Grand Slam record to 24 titles. Nadal previously explained that he had not congratulated his rival because he "needed time to appreciate the message". The Spaniard had congratulated Djokovic after his two Australian Open and Roland Garros titles this year.

Serbian media have been harsh on Nadal recently after the 37-year-old said Djokovic was obsessed with winning the most Grand Slams in history, and insisted he wasn't disappointed that Nole had surpassed him. Following Nadal's controversial remarks, Djokovic responded last week by suggesting his rival "says one thing and does another".

According to the draw results, Djokovic fell into the Blue Group at the ATP Finals, along with Jannik Sinner, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune. The Red Group includes Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev.

With a 1,490-point gap on Djokovic in the Race to Turin, Alcaraz can only finish the year as world number one if he goes unbeaten at the tournament starting on November 12, and Nole loses all three of his group stage matches. If Djokovic wins a match at the tournament, he will extend his eight-year record of finishing as world number one, and become the first man to reach 400 weeks at the top of the ATP rankings.

Vy Anh

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