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Alcaraz The matador defeats Nadal the Bull in three sets, will meet Djokovic in Madrid Masters semifinals
- Updated: May 6, 2022
![](https://i2.wp.com/www.10sballs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Alcarazfist.jpg?fit=615%2C464&ssl=1)
By Ricky Dimon
The marquee quarterfinal matchup that had been eagerly anticipated since the Mutua Madrid Open draw came out last week certainly did not disappoint on Friday afternoon.
An all-Spanish affair between Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz went the distance, and it was the youngster who ended up prevailing 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 after two hours and 28 minutes. Alcaraz beat Nadal for the first time in three chances to set up a semifinal showdown against Novak Djokovic.
As the scoreline suggests, it was a roller-coaster ride with substantial momentum swings for both players. Alcaraz broke serve three times in the first set alone, but he rolled his right ankle at 1-1 in the second set. Neither a medical timeout nor a 10-minute delay for a health issue in the stands proved to be an immediate cure for the teenager, who did not win another game in set two. A break prior to the third, however, appeared to be just what the doctor ordered. Alcaraz came back out and throughout the decider he looked like the player who has compiled a ridiculous 26-3 match record in 2022.
A love break at 2-1 was enough for the world No. 9, as there were no other break points in the third set.
“All the hard work that I put in every day pays off today,” Alcaraz noted. “To beat Rafa, to beat the best player in history on clay, it means a lot to me…. I’m very excited; a lot of excitement. Very few players can say that they have defeated Rafa on clay. I feel fortunate to be one of them. Right now I am very, very happy.
“It [was] a tough second set. I twisted my ankle. It was a little bit painful while I was playing, but it was no reason to do (in) the second set what I [did]…. I was thinking of my ankle all the time and not on playing the match. I lost the second set, and then after I went to the bathroom. It helped me. I washed my face. ‘Okay, Charlie, if you’re not going to pull out, think about playing. Don’t think [about] your ankle. Don’t think [about anything] else. Fight till the very last ball, because you know that you are capable of doing it.'”
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.10sballs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/RafaNadalHand.jpg?w=615&ssl=1)
Nadal is trying to work himself into peak form prior to the French Open, having been sidelined for two months by a rib injury until he took the court in Madrid.
“I just accept [the loss] naturally with calm and with security that there is a path to continue until [Roland Garros] to try to generate with myself real options,” the 35-year-old explained. “That’s what I’m working on right now. It’s an easy loss to digest in that regard, because we knew what we could expect here. (But) I don’t take away any merit from Carlos. Congratulations to him. He’s playing great, and I hope the best for him for the rest of the tournament.”
Next up for Alcaraz as the business end of the tournament continues is a first-ever matchup against Djokovic. The world No. 1 defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.