I'm Not Nadal's Replacement,' Says Alcaraz As French Open Hopes Boosted

25.04.2023 - 14:57 sports.ndtv.com

Carlos Alcaraz insisted Sunday that he is not Rafael Nadal's "replacement" as the teenager comfortably defended his Barcelona title, bolstering his bid to succeed his compatriot as French Open champion.

The 19-year-old brushed aside Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4 to add the Barcelona trophy to wins in Buenos Aires and Indian Wells in 2023.

He now has nine career titles. With 14-time French Open champion Nadal sidelined since January with a hip injury and world number one and two-time Roland Garros winner Novak Djokovic struggling with an elbow problem, Alcaraz reinforced his credentials as a major contender to add the clay-court Grand Slam title to the US Open he captured last year.

However, he was quick to dampen speculation that he is the French Open champion-in-waiting, just five weeks out from the second major of the year in Paris. "I don't want to be anyone's replacement," said world number two Alcaraz when confronted with his status as heir apparent to Nadal who turns 37 in June.

tennis Barcelona as Rafael Nadal Carlos Alcaraz Roland Garros Novak Djokovic France Usa Australia Buenos Aires county Miami India Paris county Wells

Andy Murray has been handed a difficult draw as he continues his French Open preparations by playing on the ATP Challenger Tour. Murray, who celebrated his 36th birthday on May 15, ended his four-year wait for a title by winning a Challenger event in Aix-en-Provence earlier this month. Ad But he didn’t carry the momentum through to the Italian Open as he was beaten in his first match by Fabio Fognini.

Rafael Nadal declines clay-court wildcard as French Open questions loom - ESPN

PARIS — Rafael Nadal has turned down a wildcard offer for next week's Challenger tournament in Bordeaux, the clay-court event director said Sunday, as the 22-time Grand Slam champion's participation in the French Open hangs in the balance.

Alcaraz says focus will not change as French Open top seed

Carlos Alcaraz said being the top seed at the French Open was "crazy", something he would not have believed years ago, but the Spaniard will not dwell too much on his position heading into the year's second Grand Slam.

Swiatek does not want Nadal to suffer in French Open comeback bid

ROME : Iga Swiatek said that as a big fan of Rafa Nadal, she would love to see the 14-times champion compete at the French Open, but the world number one did not want the injury-plagued Spaniard to suffer and make himself available for the tournament.

Will Rafael Nadal be fit for French Open? Will Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Nick Kyrgios play Grand Slam?

The 2023 French Open is just three weeks away and there remains uncertainty over whether some of the biggest names in tennis will be playing the Grand Slam. Defending champion Rafael Nadal is the big question mark in the men’s draw given he hasn’t played since the Australian Open. Ad Novak Djokovic has also battled an injury over the last month while Nick Kyrgios hasn’t played this year after undergoing surgery.

Boris Becker ‘worried’ about Rafael Nadal’s Roland-Garros chances amid French Open champion’s injury problems

Rafael Nadal is fighting against the clock to be fit to defend his French Open crown, and Boris Becker is “worried” about the Spaniard’s chances. Nadal is yet to return to the court following a hip injury he sustained at the Australian Open in January and he most recently pulled out of the Italian Open in as he had not fully recovered. Ad In an exclusive interview with Eurosport, Becker admitted something “really bad” must have happened for Nadal to miss tournaments on his favourite clay surface in preparation for Roland-Garros.