When Carlos Alcaraz made his debut at the Mutua Madrid Open two years ago, he won just three games in his second-round match against Rafael Nadal. Little did the Spanish teen know that one year later he would make history at the Caja Magica.
Last year, carrying momentum from his maiden ATP Masters 1000 triumph in Miami, Alcaraz showed he was unafraid of the pressure on home soil in Madrid. After defeating five-time ATP Tour titlist Nikoloz Basilashvili and then-World No. 11 Cameron Norrie, he once again played countryman Nadal.
“You always have to think of Rafa as the favourite because he has already won here five times and all of the things he has achieved on clay,” Alcaraz said ahead the match in a press conference. “At the end of the day, I’m the new boy, the newcomer, the one that should not have any pressure when playing against one of the best players of history.”
If Alcaraz was nervous, he did not show it. This time he upset Nadal 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 in the…