3 milestones Carlos Alcaraz achieved by beating Rafael Nadal at 2022 Madrid Masters
Carlos Alcaraz beat five-time champion Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open on Friday to set up a blockbuster semifinal showdown with top seed Novak Djokovic.
Alcaraz, 19, has been the form player on tour this year, picking up a pair of ATP 500 titles either side of a maiden Masters 1000 triumph in Miami. His success at Barcelona a week ago made him the youngest top-10 debutant since Nadal (2005) almost two decades ago.
Alcaraz opened his campaign in the Spanish capital against Nikoloz Basilashvili, winning in straight sets. He faced a sterner challenge in the next round against Brit Cameron Norrie, who took a set off the teenager in a near three-hour battle.
Facing his idol Nadal next, Alcaraz won the opening set 6-2. However, after Alcaraz twisted his ankle in the second set, Nadal raised his level, winning it 6-1 to storm back into the contest.
To his credit, though, Alcaraz regained his mojo to close out one of the biggest wins of his career.
@alcarazcarlos03 supera a 
Un día que siempre recordará ✨✨
🇪🇸 @alcarazcarlos03 supera a 🇪🇸 @RafaelNadal (6-2, 1-6, 6-3) y cita a Djokovic en las semifinales del #MMOPEN. https://t.co/T287dXaejv
With the win, Alcaraz achieved a few significant milestones in the match. Here's a look at three of them:
#1 Carlos Alcaraz becomes the youngest semifinalist in Madrid Masters history
Carlos Alcaraz added another achievement to his list of firsts this year. With his victory over Nadal in Madrid on Friday, he became the youngest semifinalist in the tournament's history.
He broke the record previously set by Nadal in 2005.
History made 💪
The moment @alcarazcarlos03 defeated Rafael Nadal to become the youngest semi-finalist in Madrid history.
#MMOPEN https://t.co/SWOBn5Savx
#2 Carlos Alcaraz ends Rafael Nadal's 25-match winning streak against Spaniards
Carlos Alcaraz's win over Nadal on Friday ended the latter's 25-match winning streak against fellow Spaniards.
The last time the 21-time Grand Slam champion finished second-best to a player from Spain was in the first round of the 2016 Australian Open. On that occasion, Nadal lost 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-3, 6-7(4), 2-6 to Fernando Verdasco, marking only his second defeat in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament. The only other time he lost in the first round was at Wimbledon 2013 to Steve Darcis.
#3 Carlos Alcaraz becomes first teenager to beat Rafael Nadal on clay
Touted by many to be the heir apparent to Nadal and a future World No. 1, the 19-year-old peaked when it mattered most to beat his illustrious compatriot on the red dirt. In the process, Alcaraz became the first teenager to floor the 'King of Clay' on his favorite surface.
19-year-old @AlcarazCarlos03 becomes 1st teenager to defeat Rafael Nadal on clay, beating 5-time champion 6-2 1-6 6-3 in #MMOPEN QF.
Alcaraz also ends Nadal's 25-match win streak against fellow Spaniards. He will meet World No. 1 @DjokerNole for 1st time in @MutuaMadridOpen SF.
It was his first victory over Nadal in three meetings. In their first meeting a year ago at the Madrid Masters, Alcaraz suffered a straight-sets defeat in the third round.
A few weeks ago in the Indian Wells semifinals, Alcaraz offered much more resistance, but Nadal escaped in a three-hour, three-set slugfest, albeit at a great personal cost. He fractured his rib, sidelining him for six weeks before returning to action at the Madrid Masters.