Rafael Nadal has publicly declared his support for fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the upcoming men's Australian Open final this Sunday, even as he acknowledges the 'incredible' history he shares with opponent Novak Djokovic. The tennis icon, who clinched the Grand Slam title in Melbourne twice during his illustrious career, formed a doubles partnership with the world number one for Spain at the 2024 Paris Olympics and also teamed up in Davis Cup matches prior to Nadal's retirement at the close of that year.
Alcaraz's Gruelling Path to the Final
Alcaraz secured his maiden final berth in Melbourne following an intense, sweat-drenched semi-final that lasted five hours and twenty-seven minutes against last year's finalist Alexander Zverev. Despite battling vomiting and cramp during the marathon encounter, the young Spaniard demonstrated remarkable resilience to advance. Both finalists are poised to make history, with the 22-year-old Alcaraz aiming to become the youngest man in the Open era to achieve a career Grand Slam, having already triumphed in London, Paris, and New York.
Djokovic's Pursuit of Records
On the other side of the net, the 38-year-old Djokovic is vying to become the oldest man to win a Grand Slam while simultaneously capturing a record-breaking 25th major title. Although an Alcaraz victory would see him surpass Nadal as the youngest winner of all four majors, the 39-year-old legend has made it clear where his allegiances lie. 'First of all, it's going to be a pleasure to watch the final live,' Nadal shared. 'Having not been in a professional mindset for some time, the first thing I want is to enjoy a great battle and a high level of tennis again.'
Nadal's Personal Connections
Nadal elaborated on his decision, stating, 'I have a good relationship with him, we shared the Olympic Games, we were both on the Spanish team. If Novak wins, I'll be happy for him because, in a way, what he's doing is spectacular. It wouldn't be a tragedy for me, but if I have to support someone, I feel I have to support Carlos.' He did, however, admit to having an 'incredible history' with Djokovic and extended his best wishes to the Serbian champion for the showdown.
Historical Context and Recovery Concerns
While Alcaraz's semi-final clash with Zverev has been recorded as the longest in the Slam's history, it still falls short of the tournament's overall record, held by Djokovic's 2012 final victory over Nadal, which spanned five hours and fifty-three minutes. Djokovic, who has triumphed ten times on Rod Laver Arena, reflected on that epic encounter after his own gruelling five-set battle against two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner. 'I'm lost for words right now,' said Djokovic post-match. 'It feels surreal to be honest. Playing almost four hours, reminiscing in 2012, I played Rafa in the final that was six hours. The level of intensity was extremely high and I knew that was my only chance to win against him tonight.'
Controversy and Recovery Prospects
Despite Djokovic entering the final marginally fresher, having spent nearly an hour and a half less time on court, Nadal expressed confidence in Alcaraz's ability to recover. The semi-final was not without controversy, as Alcaraz sought treatment for what Zverev believed was cramp during the third set, leading to a heated exchange. Zverev complained to Grand Slam supervisor Andreas Egli, alleging that Alcaraz and Sinner were 'protected' by the tour. However, Alcaraz was likely within the rules, which permit treatment for heat-related illnesses, symptoms of which can include cramp.
'Yesterday was an exciting match, I think it had a bit of everything,' Nadal commented. 'There was drama because of what happened to Carlos in the third set and then, as is normal in these situations, the cramps, if you manage to hold on for a while, usually pass; they are sometimes tension cramps. In the end, the game had everything it needs to get people involved, to generate emotions in our sport and in the people who are watching it. I'm sure he'll recover. Although it was a long battle, the other semifinal wasn't short either, and it was against a player of a different age, so I think Carlos has an even better chance of recovering than Novak.'
Head-to-Head and Olympic History
Djokovic currently leads the head-to-head record against Alcaraz with five wins to four, including a victory in their most recent meeting at the US Open six months ago. One of their most significant encounters occurred two years ago in Paris, where the elder statesman defeated Alcaraz to claim the gold medal. As the final approaches, all eyes will be on Rod Laver Arena to see whether Alcaraz can fulfil Nadal's backing or if Djokovic will further cement his legendary status in the sport.
