If an 18th birthday is meant to mark a significant coming-of-age moment, then Carlos Alcaraz certainly lived up to the occasion. In front of his home crowd in Madrid, the rising tennis star prepared to face one of the sport’s legends for the very first time.
Alcaraz had idolized Rafael Nadal throughout his childhood. Facing the legendary Spaniard on his favored clay surface stirred a mix of excitement and intense fear. “I was so scared,” Alcaraz later recalled. “I couldn’t play. His presence, the atmosphere – it’s unbelievable.”
From Nadal’s side, the nerves were evident. Carlos Moyá, longtime coach of the 22-time Grand Slam winner, noticed from the stands a young player clearly overwhelmed by the occasion. Despite the dominant 6-1, 6-2 win by Nadal on Madrid clay, Moyá saw the potential in Alcaraz. “You could see he was special,” Moyá said. “He had all the shots — drop shots, volleys, running around — it was great to watch.”
Four years after that encounter, Alcaraz has blossomed into a four-time Grand Slam champion and is the favorite to defend his French Open title starting this Sunday — a tournament Nadal has dominated for 20 years. Though seeded second behind Italy’s Jannik Sinner, who returns from a doping suspension, Alcaraz recently beat Sinner in the Italian Open final. Before that, he won the Monte-Carlo Masters and reached the final of the Barcelona Open, narrowly losing to Holger Rune.
As Alcaraz prepares to face veteran Kei Nishikori in the first round at Roland Garros, he arrives with an impressive record of 15 wins in 16 clay matches this season. Moyá praises Alcaraz’s potential: “He’s 22, with a bright present and future. He has all the tools to keep winning Slams. While he can play well on any surface, clay suits him best. With his recent wins in Monte-Carlo and Rome, he’s probably the top favorite for the French Open.”
This year’s tournament feels like the dawn of a new era in men’s tennis. Nadal, a record 14-time French Open champion, has retired and will be honored by the organizers at the start of the event. Moyá, a former French Open champion who coached Nadal to eight major titles, will be there to witness the tributes to the tennis icon. While it will be bittersweet, Moyá treasures the memories of Nadal’s dominance on the Paris clay — losing just four of 116 matches.
“It’s going to be a strange feeling, but we’ll enjoy it,” Moyá said. “We had eight great years with Rafa, and there are so many memories. It’s different now, and I might not watch much tennis on TV at home because it feels sad not being there. But I wish the best to all the competitors.”
Since Nadal’s retirement last November, Moyá hasn’t watched much tennis. He hasn’t taken a full-time coaching role but has been named captain of the inaugural Legends Team Cup, a new event featuring recently retired players competing in three teams. The tournament begins next month in St. Barts, with Moyá’s team, including 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem and former top-10 players Diego Schwartzman and Fernando Verdasco, making their first New York appearance in July.
“Rafa played against most of them during the years, so that helps,” Moyá said. “I hope to provide good guidance. They’re skilled players and can play without a captain, but I want to add my experience. I’m looking forward to it.”
The Legends Team Cup reminds us that while an elite athlete’s physical peak may fade, the competitive spirit never dies. “It’s in our blood — we want to win no matter what,” Moyá added. “Sometimes, you just miss that competition.”
As Moyá and Nadal return to Court Philippe-Chatrier to receive tributes, they’ll witness Alcaraz starting his title defense — the same nervous teenager who was overwhelmed by his idol four years ago. With Nadal now in the stands and Alcaraz dominating on the court, it’s clear a new generation is rising.
Moyá believes both share a key quality: a relentless mentality. “They both have that never-say-die attitude and killer instinct,” he said.
Nadal built an empire at the French Open. Now, it’s Alcaraz’s time to build his own legacy.
