There’s a new “Slam” on Carlos’ board Alcaraz, but it is not one of the four official majors. He is the Netflix Slamthe eagerly awaited exhibition organized by the streaming platform in Las Vegas, where the Murcian beat Rafael Nadal. The student who beats the master, as in Madrid 2022. It wasn’t an ATP match, but the anticipation and expectations were high. In the end, Alcaraz cameback to win after almost two hours of play in the super tiebreak: 3-6, 6-4, 14-12 the final score in front of 10,000 spectators at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
The main question of the match was about fitness, both by Nadal and Alcaraz. The first has been stopped for two months due to a muscle problem; the second recovering from an ankle problem in Rio de Janeiro. Physical problems now behind us, in one fun match and taken very seriously by both players. The two Spaniards struggled on serve, but gave rise to several intense rallies with many winners such as the masterful one played by Nadal on the second of the five match points disallowed. Rafa, who played for the first time under the eyes of his son, can be satisfied with his level three days before the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells: a lot of quality, the usual determination, but a service that can improve. The elements from which to start again in the final rush of your career. “As a fan I will continue to enjoy Alcaraz for a long time,” Nadal said after the match. A real handover.