Watch ‘special’ moment as Nadal congratulates Alcaraz
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Seven-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz, who began the year by winning the Australian Open and then the Qatar Open, fell to a 6-3 5-7 6-4 defeat to world No. 36 Korda in Miami. The American is the lowest-ranked man to beat Alcaraz since last year’s Miami Open, when the 22-year-old suffered a second-round loss to world No.55 David Goffin.While Alcaraz has now suffered two high-profile defeats in March, having also lost his semi-final encounter with Daniil Medvedev at Indian Wells, Nadal insists it makes “no sense” to worry about his form.
“I mean, when he’s just come off winning the Australian Open, he’s won seven Grand Slams, he’s No. 1 in the world. So, what? Is he supposed to win all the matches of the year?” Nadal said after receiving an honorary doctorate from the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid.
“That’s never going to happen. So there’s your answer.”
Highlights: Medvedev stuns Alcaraz to deny first Sincaraz final of 2026
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Nadal continued: “Are we really going to worry about two defeats? I don’t think so. That doesn’t make sense and we shouldn’t demand more from him.
“I think what we all have to do is just congratulate Carlos and thank him for everything that he’s accomplishing.
“In the end, he’s brought a number of achievements to Spanish sport that, maybe 25 or 30 years ago, we wouldn’t have imagined.
“Maybe we’ve all gotten too used to it. But I’ve never lost perspective on how difficult the things that Carlos is doing are, or any athlete from Spain, or any other country.”
Alcaraz had won 16 matches in a row before losing to Medvedev in Indian Wells.
After losing to Korda he insisted his game was improving, but said lower-ranked players are able to play him “without pressure”.
“I think the process has been good. Besides the loss today, I think I’m still in the right way,” he said.
“Some things in previous tournaments that I just didn’t feel comfortable with, I think in this tournament, I started to feel better and better.
“I’m feeling they have more to win than to lose in those matches. They’re playing without pressure.
“I’m not thinking about my pressure. I don’t feel it at all. I’m trying to play my best.”
Alcaraz is next set to play at the Monte-Carlo Masters, which is the first big event of the clay season and starts on April 5.
Asked about his plans after losing early in Miami, Alcaraz said: “I don’t know. I’ll probably go home, something that I’m very excited about, to spend a few days relaxing with my family and friends. I don’t know how much rest and days off my team will allow me.
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”Suddenly, I’ll get back to the routine, back on the court. The clay court season is just around the corner. I have some very good tournaments there, and I’m looking forward to playing.
“Right now what I have in mind is taking a few days off, disconnecting, recharging my batteries, being ready and in good shape for the clay-court season.”
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