Nadal: Alcaraz is fully capable of winning 22 Grand Slam titles

Rafael Nadal highly praises Carlos Alcaraz’s development, believing his fellow countryman will go very far in the future.

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal believes there is no reason why Carlos Alcaraz cannot become one of the greatest Grand Slam champions in history—provided he avoids injuries. In an interview with the program El Larguero, the 22-time Grand Slam winner emphasized that the young world number one is on an impressive career trajectory.

Alcaraz currently holds 6 Grand Slam titles, including two each at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open. If he maintains his form, he could easily match Nadal’s Grand Slam record in the future. The 21-year-old has a chance to complete a "Career Grand Slam" before turning 23 at the upcoming Australian Open in January— a tournament where he has yet to progress beyond the quarterfinals.

"22 Grand Slams? Why not? Six titles is already a lot, and he’s moving forward at an incredible pace.", Rafa shared. "The key is to stay injury-free. If you’re healthy, you don’t lose confidence, and that helps you keep improving."

In the Open Era, only five male players have won 10 or more Grand Slam titles, with Novak Djokovic holding the record at 24. Alcaraz ranks second among Spanish players—male and female combined—in most Grand Slam singles titles, just behind Nadal.

The "King of Clay" faced Alcaraz three times between 2021 and 2022, winning twice. In their most recent meeting at the 2022 Madrid Open, Nadal was defeated before retiring two years later.

Regarding the current men’s tennis landscape, Nadal believes someone needs to step up and challenge Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner—the duo holding the top two ATP rankings and dominating the last 8 Grand Slams.

"I think they need someone to push them.", Rafa stated. "Joao Fonseca? He’s still very young. Alcaraz and Sinner create a gap from the rest. Even when they don’t play their best, they still win and reach finals."

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