Carlos Alcaraz is a breath of recent air in a tennis panorama dominated for many years by three males — and a completely reward for Spanish followers particularly.
But this joke — which we assume it was — may be going too far.
Alcaraz has returned from an damage that noticed him miss this yr’s Australian Open with a bang on the tour’s so-called fifth main in Indian Wells.
He stormed right into a semi-final conflict in opposition to Jannik Sinner — who’s changing into a daily dance associate and potential long-term rival — with a 6-4 6-4 dispatching of Felix Auger-Aliassime.
But it was a sight up within the grandstand that proved the largest speaking level for tennis followers, when one man decked out in Barcelona gear unfurled a Spanish flag.
He’d made a evident adjustment for Alcaraz’s match, taping over the phrase “Rafa” and including “Carlitos”.
Even in jest, it was disturbing to see 22-time grand slam winner Nadal — who’s at present out injured — so abruptly put out to pasture.
Nadal remains to be the reigning French Open champion, received two of the 4 majors final yr and is actually the final man you’d wish to write off regardless of his physique persevering with to let him down at 36 years of age.
Fans erupted when a picture of the supporter was shared on Reddit.
“What the f***, you know you could just get a new flag guy,” wrote one.
“Bahaha, this is hilarious. Poor guy is gonna have to get another flag when Nadal is back on tour,” added one other.
“Typical glory hunter fan, no wonder he is wearing a Barca hoody,” wrote a 3rd.
“High treason! This is hilarious,” added a fourth.
“Carlitos is a nice hopeful transition for Rafa fans when Rafa retires years from now,” a fifth wrote.
“Probably after 2024 and I can see Rafa going for 2025 if he still has hope for Roland Garros and why not.
“Federer fans did not have a countryman alternative that was young and upcoming like this overlapping so this is awesome.”
Alcaraz, the 2022 US Open winner, posted his first victory over Auger-Aliassime in 4 conferences to maintain his bid to regain the world primary rating on monitor.
“It’s wonderful to beat Felix finally, and the way I did it, playing at a great level,” mentioned the 19-year-old, who referred to as it maybe his greatest match of the season.
Italy’s Sinner reached the ultimate 4 with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory over defending champion Taylor Fritz and now has an opportunity to avenge his loss to Alcaraz in an electrifying quarter-final on the US Open final yr.
That five-set battle lasted 5 hours and quarter-hour, its 2:50am end the most recent in US Open historical past. Alcaraz would go on to carry the trophy and turn out to be the youngest world primary within the historical past of the ATP rankings.
“We’ve played several times and all the matches have been very tough,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I like this kind of challenge, I’m going to enjoy it.”
Alcaraz hadn’t dropped a set in reaching the quarters, however Auger-Aliassime was the primary top-10 participant he has confronted this yr.
This time, Alcaraz was prepared for him, saying his prior defeats to the Canadian had taught him to “stay there.”
The two-hour conflict was an exciting show of athleticism and shot making from each gamers.
— with AFP
Source: www.news.com.au
