‘He is better than me’ – Rafael Nadal lavishes praise on Carlos Alcaraz ahead of Madrid Open quarter-final clash

Rafael Nadal lavished praise on Carlos Alcaraz ahead of their Madrid Open quarter-final clash on Friday afternoon. The two Spaniards go head-to-head in a tantalising match-up in front of a home crowd at the Manolo Santana Stadium, after Nadal overcame David Goffin in a gripping three-set match, winning 6-3 5-7 7-6 (11-9). Ad/> He said: «Well, it's a very, very tough match, of course.

I think that today, he is better than me and he has a good dynamic, a good momentum. ATP Madrid'He has a thousand lives' — Alcaraz wary of Nadal quarter-final threat13 HOURS AGO “I am conscious on what we have right now. I think I am a very realistic person, and that doesn't take me to not believe that I can win or that I can do it, but today I think that Alcaraz is in a better physical state of mind, is more fit.

“I came here without playing. He's younger, so he has that extra energy. I'm clear who, from the beginning, has advantage in tomorrow's match.

But in that regard, I will try to do as much as possible to be competitive. “Of course, tomorrow's match will try to win, but whatever the outcome is, that it's something positive for me in the future. FAA sets up quarter-final with Zverev with Madrid Open win over Sinner Jabeur to face Pegula after becoming first African player to reach WTA 1000 final in Madrid “For me, the most important is not who is better tomorrow, it will be for him because he wants to keep winning, but for me it is most important who will be better in three weeks’ time, and that's my target.