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By Alberto Amalfi | Sunday, Might 1, 2022
Carlos Alcaraz celebrates his nineteenth birthday on Thursday.
The Barcelona champion is not asking for celebration favors.
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Alcaraz has one birthday want: a Rafael Nadal rematch in a Madrid.
The seventh-seeded Alcaraz has a first-round bye and can face both Fabio Fognini or Nikoloz Basilashvili in his Madrid opener.
Each Alcaraz and Nadal have to win two matches to arrange a Madrid quarterfinal rematch that might simply fall on Alcaraz’s birthday.
“Hopefully I will play on my birthday. I want for that,” Alcaraz instructed the media in Madrid. “It is a big day, the place final yr I used to be in a position to play in opposition to Rafa, and this yr I want I will play the match on my birthday on Thursday. Hopefully I will win this yr.”
A yr in the past, Nadal schooled Alcaraz 6-1, 6-2 within the Madrid spherical of 32. Of their Indian Wells rematch final March, Nadal fought off a ferocious Alcaraz and a fractured rib prevailing 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in a three-hour marathon.
Right now, Alcaraz partnered Nadal’s coach and good buddy Marc Lopez to a doubles win in Lopez’s farewell match. Nadal and Lopez famously partnered to seize the doubles gold medal on the 2016 Rio Olympic Video games.
Miami Open champion Alcaraz got here near cracking the code in opposition to the king of clay in Indian Wells and is a way more assured participant nowadays. He has trigger for confidence: the world No. 9 carries a 23-3 document, together with an 11-1 mark on filth, into Madrid.
Alcaraz, who excelled earlier than residence followers in a rousing Barcelona efficiency, says he is able to make Madrid magic.
{The teenager} says his aim for this Masters is identical as his aim for each match: take the title.
“Each single match that I step into, I believe that I’m able to win it,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I believe I’ve the extent and the bodily state to win it. You understand, that is tennis and something can occur.
“I really feel prepared. I really feel with the arrogance, and I believe that I can do a extremely good outcome, can obtain a extremely good outcome right here in Madrid.”
Photograph credit score: Mutua Madrid Open
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