Can Carlos Alcaraz beat Nadal?

Can Alcaraz beat Nadal?

  • Total voters
    36
  • Poll closed .
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
ibbi said:
Only thing standing in his way here might be the mental hurdle he'll have to overcome. Looking at the two of them play this week he can and absolutely should. Norrie had to play the match of his life yesterday just to try and keep up with the kid, and still couldn't even manage a set. Nadal can't move like that anymore.

Alcaraz is a world a way from the player he was when they met last year, and it's not on clay either. The one other thing working against him is this is going to be a day match, and I'm pretty sure all his matches have been night ones, so the conditions will be slightly more to Rafa's liking and what he's used to.
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It could be said IW is quite a bit slower than Madrid.

I believe the primary source of that underwhelming performance 10 months ago was the deer in the headlights phenomenon. I’m confident he’s past that now.
 
TimHenmanATG

TimHenmanATG

Hall of Fame
 
vex

vex

Legend
Artanis said:
Well, for sure Carlito is special and spectacular.
But technique-wise, Alcaraz hits straight-arm FH, unlike Nole (and similar to Federer). On BH side are more alike, with way better BH DTL for Nole.
On topic: he definitely has a big chance now given he is fresher than Nadal who struggled.
Will he? Hard to say if mentally will be here for the occasion.
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Straight arm or bent arm, the kid hits accurate and pressuring. It’s fun to watch. But you are absolutely right, how mentally tough he is will decide how his career plays out.
 
Forgive Me Father

Forgive Me Father

Hall of Fame
ChaelAZ said:
To me he is very much like the young Nadal, with power, fight to win every point, movement and defense to offense, and even the arm pump celebration. Djo has always been lanky and flexible, but not as explosive to me.
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thats more energy wise...

game style wise Alcaraz doesnt really resemble either, but the mechanics of his strokes are much more similar to Djokovic.
 
Forgive Me Father

Forgive Me Father

Hall of Fame
Artanis said:
Well, for sure Carlito is special and spectacular.
But technique-wise, Alcaraz hits straight-arm FH, unlike Nole (and similar to Federer). On BH side are more alike, with way better BH DTL for Nole.
On topic: he definitely has a big chance now given he is fresher than Nadal who struggled.
Will he? Hard to say if mentally will be here for the occasion.
Click to expand...

what kind of FH does Nole hit?
 
Dartagnan64

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
Forgive Me Father said:
nothing alike so that makes no sense
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Agreed. He has a better BH and net game already than Nadal at 18. But Nadal had that FH. Both had great return games but inferior serve games at that age. Both play every point like it’s their last.

I think Alcaraz is every bit as talented as the big 3. But to be the best you need the mentality. I think today will be a good gauge.
 
P

Patriots

Semi-Pro
Physically, his build at 18 is closer to Rafa than any of the younger guns, since he actually HAS guns.

Sinner will bulk up a bit and FAA slightly has , but Carlos stands out that way.
 
N

ND-13

Hall of Fame
Alcaraz is the real deal.. I wouldnt be surprised if he goes on to be the best player Spain ever offered.
 
Aabye5

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
mike danny said:
2: Agassi and Fed.
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But it's a bit like Djokovic now. Djokovic could be a threat to the kid, but he can't step on court, which means he's no threat.

Agassi in the last stages of his career was clutching his back in almost every match. Maybe he could have been a threat to Rafa without the back pain, but he literally had discs popping out.
 
mike danny

mike danny

Bionic Poster
Aabye5 said:
But it's a bit like Djokovic now. Djokovic could be a threat to the kid, but he can't step on court, which means he's no threat.

Agassi in the last stages of his career was clutching his back in almost every match. He could have been a threat to Rafa without the back pain. He had discs popping out.
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The guy did give Rafa and Fed a tough time in 2005. The USO F would have been a blowout if what you said was true.
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
mike danny said:
He was an ATG, wasn't he? And it's not like he wasn't contending for them still. Just stopped by better players.
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Man, I can’t believe how pedantic you are, Professor Red Pencil. OK, broken down Andre, who lost both his matches to youthful Nadal, was an ATG (barely) and still competing (barely) on the tour in 2004-06. You got me! Does that make you happy?

I’m surprised you haven’t upped it to three ATGs that Nadal contended with because Sampras played the type of schedule Agassi resorted to in ‘04-‘06 and won a slam in 2002, the first year Nadal won an ATP Tour match.

You basically waved the white flag of truce some 36 hours ago and I would have accepted a cease fire but my takedown of you starting with your snide and inaccurate shade thrown at Berrettini for being a HC mug just got your juices flowing and left a thorn in your side to drum this discussion up on a delayed reaction. It’s sad you can’t just let things go and agree to disagree.

Agassi was a shell of the ATG player level on anything except HC during his last two full time years. The wheels were gone from his spondylitis/scoliosis (I’m not an orthopedic expert but I’m referring to his back issue) that required far too frequent cortisone therapy. From ATG to mug on clay and grass (combined 7-9 from 2004-2006) and he wasn’t getting “stopped by better players” unless you consider Jerome Haehnel and Nenad Zimonjic great singles players.


Your contentiousness is astounding, obviously fueled by your bitterness towards any player born after 1987. What is going to put a smile on your face when you think about tennis once Djokovic and Nadal join fedr on the bench? Living vicariously through other peoples’ failure and the decline of the sport…wow! Just my opinion but that’s a sad way to wake up every morning. Perhaps start following another sport because every NextGen player sucks according to Professor Red Pencil.

(n) (n)(n):cry::cry::cry:
 
mike danny

mike danny

Bionic Poster
stringertom said:
Man, I can’t believe how pedantic you are, Professor Red Pencil. OK, broken down Andre, who lost both his matches to youthful Nadal, was an ATG (barely) and still competing (barely) on the tour in 2004-06. You got me! Does that make you happy?

I’m surprised you haven’t upped it to three ATGs that Nadal contended with because Sampras played the type of schedule Agassi resorted to in ‘04-‘06 and won a slam in 2002, the first year Nadal won an ATP Tour match.

You basically waved the white flag of truce some 36 hours ago and I would have accepted a cease fire but my takedown of you starting with your snide and inaccurate shade thrown at Berrettini for being a HC mug just got your juices flowing and left a thorn in your side to drum this discussion up on a delayed reaction. It’s sad you can’t just let things go and agree to disagree.

Agassi was a shell of the ATG player level on anything except HC during his last two full time years. The wheels were gone from his spondylitis/scoliosis (I’m not an orthopedic expert but I’m referring to his back issue) that required far too frequent cortisone therapy. From ATG to mug on clay and grass (combined 7-9 from 2004-2006) and he wasn’t getting “stopped by better players” unless you consider Jerome Haehnel and Nenad Zimonjic great singles players.


Your contentiousness is astounding, obviously fueled by your bitterness towards any player born after 1987. What is going to put a smile on your face when you think about tennis once Djokovic and Nadal join fedr on the bench? Living vicariously through other peoples’ failure and the decline of the sport…wow! Just my opinion but that’s a sad way to wake up every morning. Perhaps start following another sport because every NextGen player sucks according to Professor Red Pencil.

(n) (n)(n):cry::cry::cry:
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Take a chill pill. Agassi wasn't a factor on grass and clay, but he was still great on HC. He played peak Fed tough, which you can't do if you're done and dusted and I'm sure you'll agree 2004-2005 Fed was better than any of the younger guys today.

Why is me mentioning Agassi hurting you so much?
 
V

Vamos Rafa Nadal

Guest
Of course he can defeat Rafa! It's just a matter of time and seasoning! In both of their press conferences after the match it was very clear that as Carlos gains more experience he will learn how to win these tough matches. Once Carlos becomes more consistent with his serve he will be able to do it. If he had played at the level he had played earlier in the tournament, particularly his match against Monfils, he will definitely do it.

And also: he will have an easier time defeating Djokovic than Rafa imo. Rafa is his hero and fellow countryman and it makes a difference.
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
mike danny said:
Take a chill pill. Agassi wasn't a factor on grass and clay, but he was still great on HC. He played peak Fed tough, which you can't do if you're done and dusted and I'm sure you'll agree 2004-2005 Fed was better than any of the younger guys today.

Why is me mentioning Agassi hurting you so much?
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Another lecture from Professor Red Pencil.

Enjoy your shallow life, pal! (n)
 
albatros_forehand

albatros_forehand

Professional
stringertom said:
There are some interesting parallels between Alcaraz ‘21/‘22 and Nadal ‘04/‘05 up to now. Alcaraz is 11 months younger in this comparison but both won their first ATP titles post-Wimbledon on clay and then started the next season with a second title also on clay during the SA Golden Swing.

Obviously the glaring difference when reviewing 2005 and comparing it to 2022 is that there are now two ATGs to contend with while fedr was just on his way to establishing his bona fides. Nadal managed the Bo3 upset of fedr at Miami’04 and a couple of then Bo5 DC wins vs Clement and Roddick. The Roddick victory in Day 1 of the DC final probably was the highlight of his year. Little traction was gained in the slams by missing two due to injury and getting drubbed at AO by Hewitt and USO by defending champion Roddick, certainly nowhere near the peak slam result from Alcaraz.

At this point Alcaraz’s trajectory is on a slightly steeper course. The next three months will show if it’s real or fool’s gold.
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Then I believe he is on the right (steeper) course. He should dominate on clay now.
 
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