Nadal: “Alcaraz is an impressive relay, we need him”

Rafa Nadal is taking advantage of the days in the Spanish capital waiting for his debut at the Mutua Madrid Open, which will be the next Wednesday in the morning session, against the Serbian Kecmanovic or the Kazakh Bublik. Today, the Balearic tennis player trained in the morning at the Caja Mágica, and after that He has gone to the Santiago Bernabéu to watch Real Madrid-Espanyol. Nadal, honorary member of the white club since 2011, made the honorary kick-off prior to the match, accompanied by a standing ovation from the Madrid fans. The Balearic has analyzed in the Movistar + microphone his arrival at the Masters 1,000 category tournament.

Alcaraz irruption: “We know that he is very good. When he was triggered was a matter of time. We knew that he was going to be triggered and it has been practically since the beginning of the year. Happy for him and for Spanish tennis in this case. We need someone like him, who continue with almost 35 years of successes of our tennis. It is an impressive relief”

How to get to the tournament: “I arrive very tight, this is the reality, but I make an effort every day in training, to see how far I can go. I have trained very little, the rib is very disabling, they were two very bad and painful weeks. I have not been able to do practically anything , but the tournament is here, in Madrid, at home. I also have Roland Garros in mind in three weeks. I trust that the daily training will help me get ready. Here the demand is always maximum, but I am aware that it is a complicated tournament in this case”.

Arriving safely in Paris: “The most important thing, above all, is to be healthy, more than anything else. Then, if you get to Paris well, much better. I think I’m doing well with time, if my physique responds to me, I think three weeks could be enough to get to the least competitive.

Alcaraz: “I wish I could face Nadal in quarters”

Nadal was not the only Spanish tennis player in the Bernabéu box. Carlos Alcaraz, also a fan of the white club, witnessed the match live. In fact, the Murcian confessed that it was the first time he had been to a First Division stadium. The 18-year-old will debut in the singles draw at the Mutua Madrid Open on next Tuesday in the night session against the Georgian Basilashvili or the Italian Fognini. That day he will also make his debut Novak Djokovic, in this case in the morning session, against the Spanish Carlos Gimeno or the French Gael Monfils.

waiting for it, Alcaraz will play the doubles tomorrow together with Marc López, who says goodbye to professional tennis in Madrid, at the Manolo Santana Stadium not before 4:30 p.m. Like Rafa, Alcaraz valued his role in the tournament.

Fan support: “This morning I trained in the Caja Mágica and you can see the affection of the people, all the encouragement. There are many people behind”.

Possible Cruce with Nadal: “The truth is that it would be very good to be able to measure myself against Rafa again in Madrid. Last year he gave me a hard time. This is a Masters 1,000 where the best players in the world come, I hope I can measure myself against Rafa in the quarterfinals”.