Record 21-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal says Carlos Alcaraz is a star already and there is no need for the 18-year-old to look after him anymore.
Alcaraz, 18, grew up idolizing Nadal and now he is being called the new Nadal.
Alcaraz, who is set to turn 19 this week, is already a Masters champion and a top-10 player.
In Miami, Alcaraz won his first Masters title.
After winning Barcelona, Alcaraz broke into the top-10 for the first time in his career as he is ranked at No. 9 in the world.
Just like Nadal, Alcaraz became a Masters champion and a top-10 player at the age of 18.
“He doesn’t have to look at me anymore. He’s a star already. He’s doing amazing things. Happy [for] a Spanish colleague, happy about being a fan of the sport that we’re going to have an amazing player for such a long time,” Nadal said, per Sportskeeda.
Nadal: Alcaraz is legitimate threat on the biggest stage
Nadal acknowledged that the majority of players need more time before they find their place on the ATP Tour and start doing major things.
However, a generational talent doesn’t need much time before he starts making major results.
Players like Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer started accomplishing great things at a very young age.
Now, we are seeing it happen with Alcaraz.
“When you’re young, when you are very good, the process is faster than the normal people. So he (Carlos Alcaraz) is not a normal guy, like Novak was not a normal guy, like Roger was not a normal guy, probably me was not a normal guy or Sascha (Zverev) or these kinds of guys that have the level at a very young age so they make the transition to the very highest level very quick. That’s what he did and he’s already there, like one of the big favorites to achieve every single tournament that he’s playing,” Nadal added.