"If I had a chance of convincing Rafael Nadal to continue, I would have done it" - Carlos Alcaraz bemoans compatriot's 'tough decision' to retire
Carlos Alcaraz has opened up about coming to terms with Rafael Nadal's decision to retire from professional tennis. Alcaraz candidly admitted that if he had any chance of deterring the 22-time Grand Slam champion from ending his illustrious career, he wouldn't have hesitiated.
Alcaraz is currently in Turin for the 2024 ATP Finals, on the hunt for his maiden title at the prestigious event. The Spaniard will battle it out against Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev in the John Newcombe Group for a place in the semifinals.
Following his campaign at the year-end championships, the 21-year-old will join Team Spain at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, which will mark the site of Rafael Nadal's retirement. They will square off against the Netherlands in a much-awaited quarterfinal clash on November 19.
In a recent interview with Marca ahead of his ATP Finals campaign, Carlos Alcaraz expressed his sadness over Nadal's retirement, disclosing that the 38-year-old had explained how he arrived at the "tough decision" after careful discussions with his family and team.
"No, not really. I wish I could have. I know that the decision has already been made. I asked him if it was a tough day when he announced his retirement, if it was a tough decision to make," Carlos Alcaraz said.
"He said yes, but it is a decision that has been carefully thought out because these decisions are not taken lightly. It was thought out with his family, with his team, these are his feelings," he added.
Alcaraz also confessed that if he could have convinced the former World No. 1 to reconsider, he would've done so, as he wasn't prepared to see the 22-time Grand Slam champion step away.
"If someone had told me that I had a chance of convincing him to continue, I would have done it and I would have tried because I don't want to see him off the track yet," the four-time Grand Slam champion said.
Carlos Alcaraz: "We want to win the Davis Cup title for Spain and also for Rafael Nadal, so that his last tournament is as God intended"
During the same interview, Carlos Alcaraz emphasized his and Team Spain's determination to clinch the 2024 Davis Cup title, both as a matter of national pride and to give Rafael Nadal the sendoff he deserved.
"I want to go without any emotional expectations. We want to win the (Davis Cup) title for Spain and also for Rafa, so that his last tournament is as God intended," Carlos Alcaraz said.
The 21-year-old also expressed his willingness to compete in both singles and doubles at the team event as he conveyed his intention to give his all for his country.
"I will play for Spain in whatever way I can: singles, doubles, and if there is a mixed category, then the mixed category. If there is anything else, I am there to contribute my grain of sand because playing for Spain is the greatest thing for me," he said.
"Being able to represent my country, my flag, all Spaniards, and even more so in the situation we are experiencing due to the DANA. I am going to give everything for my flag and for my country," he added.
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal may join forces for doubles at the Davis Cup Finals after their blockbuster partnership at the Paris Olympics earlier this year. The duo reached the quarterfinals of the prestigious event before falling short against the eventual silver medalists Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram from the USA.