Nadal vs Alcaraz - Indian Wells 2022 Extended Highlights

[Hitman]

This feels like the coming to the dance for Alcaraz, in the sense, he loses a big match but then starts to win big, basically winning the very next big title event.

Nadal in 2005 lost the Federer Miami Final, then goes onto win Monte Carlo, and Rome back to start, to start his big title haul.

Djokovic in 2007 lost the Nadal Indian Wells Final, then goes onto win Miami at the very next event, his first big title

Alcaraz in 2022 lost the Nadal Indian Wells Semi, then goes onto win Miami at his very next event, then backs it up with the big win in Madrid.

 

[ebar86]

Everybody barred Nadal and Djokovic should lose this match against that alcaraz on that particular day. Nadal served and volley in the 3rd set really took carlito by surprise.

 

[MeatTornado]

Why does this feel longer ago than the 2022 AO to me?

 

[Hitman]

Why does this feel longer ago than the 2022 AO to me?

Maybe because it was before the rise of Alcaraz into the big winner's circle?

 

[Pheasant]

This is a great flashback. Nadal is the last player to beat Alcaraz at IW. Last year, Alcaraz didn't drop a set at IW, which includes taking out Sinner and Medvedev in the semi and final respectively to raise the trophy.

 

[nolefam_2024]

This is a great flashback. Nadal is the last player to beat Alcaraz at IW. Last year, Alcaraz didn't drop a set at IW, which includes taking out Sinner and Medvedev in the semi and final respectively to raise the trophy.

No sinner breadsticked him.

 

[Pheasant]

No sinner breadsticked him.

That's right. I was thinking of 2023. Of course, that wasn't the Sinner 2.0 at the event.

Without Sinner around, Alcaraz became even more likely bag his 3rd consecutive title at IW, which would tie Djoker and Federer for the longest streak at that event.

 

[big ted]

better than todays tennis

 

[The Blond Blur]

I was just about to make this thread. Glad someone else did. Crazy to think this was the last match that Carl has lost at IW. And with The Sinner currently banned he looks poised to 3peat there.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Crispiness in a dragonball kit

 

[Hitman]

Crispiness in a dragonball kit

Did you notice that Alcaraz is also wearing Saiyan armor clothes?

 

[Rafa4GOAT]

Nadal really deserved this title… had epics with Korda, Kyrgios, and Alcaraz. Not to mention the epic goku kit. Just to lose to Fritz of all people

 

[MichaelNadal]

Nadal really deserved this title… had epics with Korda, Kyrgios, and Alcaraz. Not to mention the epic goku kit. Just to lose to Fritz of all people

Clock it!!!! Im salty AF he didn’t get another IW title.

 

[ebar86]

Clock it!!!! Im salty AF he didn’t get another IW title.

The final really didn't do the justice.

 

[TennisGrandpA]

Old , snail paced , Crippled Nadal defeating peak Carlos was such a sad thing to see , probably a blot on his career.

 

[Winner Sinner]

This feels like the coming to the dance for Alcaraz, in the sense, he loses a big match but then starts to win big, basically winning the very next big title event.

Nadal in 2005 lost the Federer Miami Final, then goes onto win Monte Carlo, and Rome back to start, to start his big title haul.

Djokovic in 2007 lost the Nadal Indian Wells Final, then goes onto win Miami at the very next event, his first big title

Alcaraz in 2022 lost the Nadal Indian Wells Semi, then goes onto win Miami at his very next event, then backs it up with the big win in Madrid.

They had already faced each other before, but I think this match will be a must for Spanish tennis, precisely because it was truly the only truly balanced match between the two (the next match in Madrid ended in the third but only because Alcaraz got hurt during the second set).
Let's think carefully about what it represents, a passing of the baton between THE legend of Spanish sport and the one who in turn will be able to follow in his footsteps.
Perfect timing, it would have been like for Argentine sport to see the old Maradona play against the team of the young Messi before retiring, an inestimable symbolic value.

In some ways it's a shame that they didn't have the chance to face each other at Roland Garros 2022 due to Alcaraz's "surprising" defeat against Zverev.

 

[ebar86]

Watching this video, just noticed Rafa was sooo slow, he sliced some shots that he would be ripping them when he was young..but still beating young upcoming carlito.

Lucky this gen doesn't need to face 2008-2013 Rafa or 2011-2016 Novak.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Can be said for every gen. This is rosey retrospection.

Nadal was top 5 probably top 3 at that time. Making him look like a has been.

 

[TheGoldenEra1990’s]

I don’t read much into it Nadal was 36 at the time. I doubt guys like sinner or alcaraz will be playing at 36 much less be near the top of the game

 

[ChaelAZ]

It was SO dang windy for that match. There were some crazy scrambles for balls and weird ball flights. but dang, Nadal was a beast.

 

[mehdimike]

Crispiness in a dragonball kit

Your Avatar is Crispy as well. It's right up there with the Chester Bennington pic for me. But this one is on another level TBH, makes me feel ascended whenever I look at it

 

[Hitman]

Your Avatar is Crispy as well. It's right up there with the Chester Bennington pic for me. But this one is on another level TBH, makes me feel ascended whenever I look at it

The Rock activating John Cena like he is the Winter Solider.

 

[DSH]

Nadal really deserved this title… had epics with Korda, Kyrgios, and Alcaraz. Not to mention the epic goku kit. Just to lose to Fritz of all people

 

[messiahrobins]

I was just about to make this thread. Glad someone else did. Crazy to think this was the last match that Carl has lost at IW. And with The Sinner currently banned he looks poised to 3peat there.

Alcaraz would have beat Sinner this year at IW. He is a bad match up now for Sinner.
I never will forget Rafa's face after the match in the post match presser. He looked shocked, he knew his time was soon to be over as it was obvious Alcaraz was going to move the game on to another level as Nadal himself did 17 years previously.

 

[Winner Sinner]

I don’t read much into it Nadal was 36 at the time. I doubt guys like sinner or alcaraz will be playing at 36 much less be near the top of the game

But haven't you understood yet that longevity in sports is becoming more and more extended?

Probably when Sinner and Alcaraz are 36 years old it will have become a habit to remain at high levels at that age.

Nothing can stop the progress of methodology, nutrition, and even injury prevention.

The only variation is that the game is becoming more and more physical and fast, and this in the long run risks becoming more wearing for the body.

 

[Hitman]

Bad things happened to Nadal, every time he faced The Fritz of Taylor in 2022.

 

[TheGoldenEra1990’s]

But haven't you understood yet that longevity in sports is becoming more and more extended?

Probably when Sinner and Alcaraz are 36 years old it will have become a habit to remain at high levels at that age.

Nothing can stop the progress of methodology, nutrition, and even injury prevention.

The only variation is that the game is becoming more and more physical and fast, and this in the long run risks becoming more wearing for the body.

It remains to be seen. All of the big 3’s contemporaries were washed up way before. The big 3 may be the rare exception. But like you say the game is also becoming more physical. So these kids in their early 20’s today could very well be washed up by 30

 

[The Blond Blur]

Alcaraz would have beat Sinner this year at IW. He is a bad match up now for Sinner.
I never will forget Rafa's face after the match in the post match presser. He looked shocked, he knew his time was soon to be over as it was obvious Alcaraz was going to move the game on to another level as Nadal himself did 17 years previously.

Gotta disagree there. Sincaraz are still well off the Big 3’s peak level of play. Alcaraz for example hasn’t won a schlem without having to play a 5 setter. The Big 3 were barely dropping any at their best. And in the case of Fedal they were able to win multiple schlems without dropping a set.

 

[Sport]

Gotta disagree there. Sincaraz are still well off the Big 3’s peak level of play. Alcaraz for example hasn’t won a schlem without having to play a 5 setter. The Big 3 were barely dropping any at their best. And in the case of Fedal they were able to win multiple schlems without dropping a set.

Slayyyyyy.

 

[messiahrobins]

Gotta disagree there. Sincaraz are still well off the Big 3’s peak level of play. Alcaraz for example hasn’t won a schlem without having to play a 5 setter. The Big 3 were barely dropping any at their best. And in the case of Fedal they were able to win multiple schlems without dropping a set.

But while i agree i dont think we are seeing peak Alcaraz yet, still think thats 2-3 years away. Sinner will never be as good as Big 3 as much as i like the guy.