Nadal praises "amazing" Alcaraz after exhibition defeat

Rafa Nadal said one advantage of nearing the end of his career is that he won't have to face Carlos Alcaraz as often, after the 37-year-old Spaniard lost to his compatriot in an exhibition match in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Nadal, who has 22 Grand Slam titles, also stated that the 20-year-old represents the future of Spanish tennis. Alcaraz has already won majors at the US Open and Wimbledon, and he is ranked second in the world behind Novak Djokovic.

"It's a good thing that as a player, I will not face him many times," said Nadal, who plans to retire in 2024 after a string of injuries limited his appearances on the circuit.

"As a fan, I will enjoy watching him for many years hopefully."

"In Spain, we should be very, very happy about having someone like Carlos coming."

"He's an amazing player. He's only 20-years-old and he's already won two Grand Slams and a couple of important tournaments."

Nadal, who was sidelined for nearly a year with a hip flexor injury before suffering a muscle injury at the beginning of this season, said he felt "much better than expected" during the exhibition match.

Nadal and world number two Alcaraz will next compete at the Masters tournament in Indian Wells.

SportsLigue