Rafael Nadal has backed Carlos Alcaraz to overcome Novak Djokovic in the last four of the Madrid Open, after the 21-time Grand Slam winner was defeated by the teenager in the quarter-final. The pair played out a headline clash on Friday, as it saw Spain’s young and old meet on home soil.
Alcaraz secured his maiden victory over hero Nadal, winning 6-2 1-6 6-3 on a day to remember for the 19-year-old. Victory moves him one step closer to a triumph in his home country, but it isn’t set to get any easier for the teenager as he takes on world No.1 Novak Djokovic on Saturday for a place in the final.
Nadal believes his Spanish counterpart has what it takes to see off Djokovic, but warned his compatriot he cannot afford any lulls against the Serb after Alcaraz won just one game in the second set of their meeting after a tumble on the baseline seemed to temporarily unsettle him.
