The 22-time Grand Slam champion knows what it means to deal with injuries from an early stage of his career, which often kept him out of competition even while he was at the top of the rankings or competing for it.
However, Nadal repeatedly returned from injuries over nearly two decades, managing to remain among the best players in the world. The retired Spaniard spent more than 900 consecutive weeks inside the top 10 despite multiple injury absences.
“He knows things happen”: Nadal sends message to Alcaraz after injury setback
In a recent interview with RNE Deportes, the 39-year-old stressed that Alcaraz should no longer be considered simply a young player, but also an experienced competitor on tour, and therefore prepared for this type of setback.
“He has enough experience, he is no longer a rookie on the circuit, he knows things happen. Obviously, it is a big setback for him,” Nadal said. “In his case, he is a very complete player who wins everywhere, but where he can make the biggest difference, in my view, is on clay.”
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal competing alongside each other
“So what has happened to him at this time of the year is tough, but he is still very young. Things that today you see as a huge drama, when you put them in perspective, are seen differently, and fortunately it is an injury that will not be chronic.”
Alcaraz made the difficult decision to withdraw from the rest of the clay swing at a moment when he was closely competing for the world No. 1 ranking with Sinner. He also lost the chance to defend his titles at the Rome Open and the French Open, which will keep him out of the race with the Italian for several months.
“I think he has made the right decisions,” Nadal added. “Taking into account that he is very young, that he has a whole career ahead of him, and that he is doing the treatment he needs to do, because it is something I know well, because I broke it twice, what he has broken now or the problem he has in his wrist.”
Nadal unveils “Inside the Legend” exhibition at Rafa Nadal Academy
Nadal gave the interview while attending the inauguration of the new Rafael Nadal Academy museum in Spain. The former world No. 1 played a central role in the opening ceremony in Manacor, where the exhibition “Inside the Legend” is displayed, showing details of Nadal’s life on and off the court throughout his career.
The museum offers a close look from Nadal’s childhood to his greatest sporting achievements, including dedicated areas to his 22 Grand Slam titles, his Olympic success, Davis Cup victories, and ATP Tour trophies.
There is also a section dedicated to sports legends who inspired Nadal, alongside a display of real objects from iconic figures such as Michael Jordan, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Serena Williams, Tiger Woods, and Pau Gasol, among others. The 22-time major champion also has a special area dedicated to the Big Three, featuring a detailed exhibition of his rivalry with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.