Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Alcaraz – Quarter-Final – Preview & Prediction | 2022 Madrid Open
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THE FACTS
When is Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Alcaraz on and what time does it start? Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Alcaraz will take place on Friday 6th May, 2022 – not before 15:00 (UK)
Where is Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Alcaraz taking place? Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Alcaraz will take place at Park Manzanares in Madrid, Spain
What surface is Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Alcaraz being played on? Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Alcaraz will take place on an outdoor clay court
Where can I get tickets for Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Alcaraz? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Alcaraz
What channel is Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Alcaraz on in the UK? Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Alcaraz will be televised live on the Amazon Prime app on Smart TVs
Where can I stream Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Alcaraz in the UK? Amazon Prime subscribers can stream Rafael Nadal vs Carlos Alcaraz live on Prime Video, while Tennis TV subscribers can also stream the match live
THE LOWDOWN
RAFAEL NADAL
Five-time Madrid Open champion Rafael Nadal took the scenic route around to a three-set victory over an inspired David Goffin on Thursday, with a deciding set tiebreak settled at 11-9. The Spaniard saw match points come and go against Goffin, who played one of his best matches in two years, but the Madrid crowd dragged him over the line in moving fashion. 35-year-old Nadal won his first three tournaments this season including at the Australian Open for a 21st major title that broke the Men’s Singles Grand Slam record.
CARLOS ALCARAZ
19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz can set a new career-high ATP world ranking of seventh after coming through an edgy and some times disjointed three-set battle with Cam Norrie late on Thursday. The Spaniard won his first ATP title on clay last season at the Umag Open but this year his rising star has gone stratospheric with two further ATP 500 titles on clay in Rio and most recently Barcelona as well as a first Masters title won at the Miami Open last month.
THE PREDICTION
This will be a special occasion for the Madrid Open, its fans, and the two men facing each other here on Friday. This time last year, exactly a year ago yesterday, the Carlos Alcaraz faced his idol Rafael Nadal on his 18th birthday and promptly lost in comprehensive straight sets as the world number 120 with a big future. One year on the teenager can rise as high as seventh in the ATP world rankings (unless Felix Auger-Aliassime reaches the final) with four ATP titles to his name, including a first Masters title from Miami last month. Nadal beat Alcaraz in three well-contested sets in the semi-finals of Indian Wells just before Miami but the effort of doing so caused a rib injury that saw him hampered in the final against eventual champion Taylor Fritz.
Both players were not at their best yesterday, especially Nadal who was in control of his match against Goffin until match point, and this looks set to be their tightest match yet. Still, on clay in Madrid where he is five-time champion and still king, back Nadal to find a way through. It would not be a surprise, though, to see Alcaraz take this in three.
