I’m not Nadal’s replacement: Barcelona Open champ Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz insisted on 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.

Alcaraz, 19, brushed aside Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4 to add the Barcelona trophy to wins in Buenos Aires and Indian Wells in 2023. With 14-time French Open champion Nadal sidelined since January with a hip injury and World No. 1 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 Alcaraz when confronted with his status as heir apparent to Nadal.

Also Read: Rafael Nadal, Alcaraz to miss French Open warm-up tournament in Monte Carlo

"In the two years that Rafa hasn't been here, I've been lucky or, let's say, I've won the title," said Alcaraz, who defended his Barcelona title without dropping a set. His win was his fourth in four meetings against Tsitsipas.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever