Rafael Nadal sends strongly-worded message about Carlos Alcaraz's future amid injury concerns

Rafael Nadal has sent a strongly-worded message to Carlos Alcaraz just days after the latter pulled out of the ongoing Madrid Open. Nadal has always been someone who speaks his mind without hesitation, and this occasion was no different, as he didn’t hold back in expressing his thoughts.

Alcaraz has faced his fair share of criticism, especially before capturing his second title of the season at the Monte-Carlo Masters, with fans consistently expecting more from him. The pressure didn’t ease up, as he was once again subjected to scrutiny after losing the final of the Barcelona Open and subsequently withdrawing from the Madrid Open.

Amid that, Carlos Alcaraz received a supportive message from his idol, Nadal. Nadal praised him, saying that every tennis player has faced criticism at some point in their career. He added that the young Spaniard knows how to handle it well and that dealing with the pressure isn’t as tough for him, thanks to the strong support system provided by his “great family.”

*All of us received the pressure from the media and from the hope that people have about you, but I think at the end, we are humans and we know how to handle that,” Nadal told CNN during the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid.

“I don’t think for Carlos it’s a big deal holding that pressure. He’s a great player and has a great family behind (him),” he added.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion continued:

“I think he’s doing great and he’s having an amazing career and he’s going to win much more if he stays out of injury – that’s the most important thing. I wish and I really believe that he’s going to have one of the best careers of all time.”

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz met up a few days ago at the Laureus Sports Awards in Madrid, where they shared a great time together. The former took home the Sporting Icon award, while the latter was nominated for the Sportsman of the Year Award, though he lost out to pole vaulting legend Mondo Duplantis.

Carlos Alcaraz in doubt for Italian Open, but assures French Open participation

Carlos Alcaraz pictured at the 2025 Madrid Open | Image Source: Getty

Carlos Alcaraz held a press conference a few days ago to announce his withdrawal from the Madrid Open, explaining that his injuries—namely a left leg hamstring injury, right leg abductor muscle issue, and a groin problem—will require time to heal. He also mentioned that he’s uncertain about his participation in the Italian Open starting May 6, but assured that he will be ready for the French Open.

Alcaraz said:

"I couldn't practice the entire week and found out I had hamstring and groin injuries. I needed to listen to my body and make the right decision. On Monday I'll have more medical tests and after that we will have a better idea on how long I'll be out.”

“I expect to go back to court and start practising in a couple of weeks. Rome is still a possibility, but for sure I'll be in Paris. It's not an easy decision because Madrid is the first tournament I have ever been to as a young kid, it's the most special place for me to play. But (prioritizing Roland Garros) was a big part of my decision to stop and recover properly,” he added.

The Spaniard is the defending champion at Roland Garros this year, having claimed the title in 2024 after defeating Alexander Zverev in the final.