Indian Wells SF: Carlos Alcaraz vs Rafael Nadal

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

I am super excited!!!! My all-time favorite player vs my current new favorite player! THIS is the match I predicted would happen when the draw came out and it IS happening!!!! Yowzers!!!!

 

[zuluzazu]

Nadals streak ends here unfortunately. Alcaraz is too good for the current aging Nadal. Alcaraz in 3

 

[TheNachoMan]

If Alcaraz is as good as he’s cracked up to be, he should have no problem beating an aged and fatigued Nadal.

Spoiler

Nadal in 2

 

[dapchai]

Nadal to lose in 2 close sets if he keeps serving badly. Alcaraz is just too fast to furious at the moment.

 

[zuluzazu]

If Alcaraz is good as he’s cracked up to be, he should have no problem beating an aged and fatigued Nadal.

Spoiler

Nadal in 2

Nice jinx attempt bro but think Alcaraz moves too well and plays too solid for Nadal. Unless Alacaraz has fan boy syndrome he should win it

 

[20 20 20]

Carlos in 0 sets

 

[Ledigs]

Really good players struggle with Nadal’s type of shots. They are pretty unique.

 

[James P]

Torch to be passed in 3.

 

[txak47]

Norrie is so poor on holding serve, but that wouldn't happen on rafa. Also Rafa will punish his serve.

 

[TheNachoMan]

Torch to be passed in 3.

epic passing of the torch match here @MichaelNadal

 

[20 20 20]

Norrie is so poor on holding serve, but that wouldn't happen on rafa. Also Rafa will punish his serve.

Lol Nadal's been broken throughout the all his matches

 

[tlm]

The way Rafa has looked so far I don’t see him beating the kid.

 

[Winners or Errors]

C’mon Alcaraz!!! Be the gatekeeper. No more old guys shall pass.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Nadal to slay

 

[tennisjedi]

Nadal in 3, although I wouldn't be surprised if Alcaraz wins. I hope for an exciting match between my two favorite players.

 

[malbaker86]

Nadal in 2 routine sets

 

[ForumMember]

Looking at their matches so far in this tournament its difficult to see Nadal having any chance. Alcaraz has been just killing his opponents. However Alcaraz may hmshow too much respect for Nadal for his own good. Also Nadal plays every opponent differently and just enough to get past. That's why despite being on 19 matches streak you dont get an impression if Nadal is tearing the field.

Still i would say advantage Alcaraz. He has been playing just too good.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

I am super excited!!!! My all-time favorite player vs my current new favorite player! THIS is the match I predicted would happen when the draw came out and it IS happening!!!! Yowzers!!!!

Nadal in 2. His easiest match of tournament after the hard fights in 4 previous matched.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Nadal to lose in 2 close sets if he keeps serving badly. Alcaraz is just too fast to furious at the moment.

Norrie broke Alcaraz 4 times but failed to hold on to his advantage. Nadal is much better at breaking & holding his own afterwards.
6-3 6-4 Nadal.

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

I think Alcaraz will win, he has been playing better than Rafa during this particular tournament. But for me it doesn't matter - I love both players so much and I can be happy either way! Nadal never gives up, but I think Alcaraz is ready for this match. He talked about wanting to play Nadal and Djokovic and giving his all to try to win and he will now have an opportunity. When he played Rafa on his birthday last year Carlos wasn't where he is now - he had raw talent that needed more seasoning - he has developed by leaps and bounds in the past 9-10 months since that match. I actually think Carlos will win in two sets.

 

[zuluzazu]

Nadal in 2. His easiest match of tournament after the hard fights in 4 previous matched.

You sir have been getting pretty cocky lately. Alcaraz has a huge game.

 

[aman92]

Wow... Probably the most excited I have been for a non GS match on years.. Let's see what the kid can bring to the table against the GOAT

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

You sir have been getting pretty cocky lately. Alcaraz has a huge game.

Not cocky at all, gentleman. Rafa will humble the teenager.

 

[dapchai]

Norrie broke Alcaraz 4 times but failed to hold on to his advantage. Nadal is much better at breaking & holding his own afterwards.
6-3 6-4 Nadal.

You're very cocky recently, sir. Be a gentleman, Alcaraz himself is no joke. Probably the cleanest young ballstriker in the last 10 years. And his speed really reminds me of young Rafa.

 

[borg number one]

This should be a barn burner! I’ll take Nadal with the two days rest. He needs to serve well.

 

[DSH]

A "beautiful mind" in three sets!

 

[NeutralFan]

Torch to be passed in 3.

There is no torch to be passed ,only mug will be passed from some mug to Alcaraz, hype is too much lol.

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

Alcaraz is yet to lose a set; Rafa has lost 2 sets and all of his matches have been close ones. Advantage to Carlos. He is ready for this match...

 

[Entername]

Torch to be passed in 3.

I feel like Alc has to beat Rafa on clay for a torch to be passed

 

[Entername]

Alcaraz has a real shot here. He's been redlining all tourney while Rafa has pretty much been grinding through all his matches. With that said, he has two things on Alcaraz that he didn't on Opelka and Kyrgios.

1. Rafa will get A LOT of break point chances on Saturday (BPs are a rarity against NK and Opelka)
2. The pressure on Alcaraz to face one of the ultimate icons of his country is going to be humongous

 

[D.Nalby12]

Alcaraz will be too solid for Nadal. He has won many "should have lost" kind of matches this year. All thanks to opponent's choking and inability to close the match. But Alcaraz will finish the Bull.

 

[BGod]

Nadal in 3. This is the heroe, the legend shadow.

Alcaraz was 7 when Rafa won 3 Slams in a row.

 

[Ray Mercer]

Tennis really needs an Alcaraz win here. The sport is in such bad shape right now it needs a new young champion. I really hope Alacaraz doesn’t choke and shows up and blows an old Nadal away. We desperately need a new young all time great with an exciting style.

 

[Entername]

Nadal in 3. This is the heroe, the legend shadow.

Alcaraz was 7 when Rafa won 3 Slams in a row.

This statement made me grow some grey hair lol

I actually can't believe how young Alcaraz is. His birth year is the same year Fed won his first major and Sept 11th is a history lesson to him

 

[BGod]

This statement made me grow some grey hair lol

I actually can't believe how young Alcaraz is. His birth year is the same year Fed won his first major and Sept 11th is a history lesson to him

Yeah Connors-Krickstein was 15 years, Agassi 18. Alcaraz is 17.

 

[weakera]

Nadal too much too soon for Alcaraz. This match is the final essentially

 

[ArcspacE]

Please Carlos - crush this shameless pusher

 

[DIMI_D]

I am super excited!!!! My all-time favorite player vs my current new favorite player! THIS is the match I predicted would happen when the draw came out and it IS happening!!!! Yowzers!!!!

Man is this the passing of the torch moment! Alcaraz is the real deal and wouldn’t be surprised to see an upset win here.

 

[beast of mallorca]

Please Carlos - crush this shameless pusher

You no.like Rafa to win

 

[stringertom]

Hopefully the second time is a charm and Alcaraz has all the hero worship paralysis flushed from his system. Madrid’21 was ugly. If Carlos plays to his potential this will be a classic. I’m guessing he does and squeaks out a 3rd set TB.

 

[cloudluc]

Carlitos in 3

 

[Nadal_King]

Rafa prevails in a classic - 6-3 4-6 6-4

 

[onefineday]

With all the hype Alcaraz is getting, this has Nadal 6-4, 6-2 written all over it.
Or Nadal retires 2-3.

 

[aldeayeah]

I have no preferences for this match. Let the better man win!

 

[ewiewp]

Alcaraz's young game is maturing up fast.
But Rafa probably knows enough of his game.

 

[aldeayeah]

The bookies favor Nadal something like 62-38, but I think they're underrating Carlos, to me this is a 50/50 match.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[El_Yotamo]

This is a tough one, whoever goes through I'll be backing to win the final. I've put Nadal in 3 but really wouldn't be surprised by any other outcome

 

[BeatlesFan]

Alcaraz has a huge game.

With a WTA serve.

Rafa in straights, 6-3, 6-4.

 

[Mike Sams]

Wasn't that long ago that Nadal was a super energetic and explosive 19 year old taking on a 35 year old Agassi in a Masters back in 2005.
Now there's an 18 year old Alcaraz taking on a 35 year old Nadal.
Crazy how time just flies.