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Spanish tennis star Paula Badosa definitely hopes Carlos Alcaraz becomes a great champion but added maybe it would be better if everyone stopped comparing the 19-year-old to Rafael Nadal. Alcaraz is doing things that really haven't been done ever since Nadal burst onto the scene in 2004/2005 and that is why he often gets compared to his fellow compatriot.
Just like Nadal, Alcaraz became a Masters champion and top-10 player before turning 19. Alcaraz, who turned 19 this month, is now aiming to win his maiden Grand Slam at the French Open. "He is going to be a great athlete, a new figure in our country.
It is Carlos Alcaraz, and it is only going to be him, let's not try to look similar to what we have with Rafa. Hopefully he will do the same or better; it would be a joy for Spanish sport, but it would be nice if we left him like Carlitos," Badosa told Marca, per Sportskeeda.
Badosa: Nadal set a high standard
Badosa is now the top-ranked Spanish player on the WTA Tour. Badosa, who lifted her maiden WTA 1000 title in Indian Wells last year, reached a career-high ranking of No. 2 in late April. Badosa has been playing extremely well since late 2021 but she admits it's tough to please Spanish tennis fans because Nadal has accustomed them to Grand Slam titles.
"It is difficult to come after him because everything that is done seems to be little," Badosa said. "Doing a few quarters in a Grand Slam or winning Indian Wells is little in the country we are in, it has spoiled us. The positive thing is that it has served as inspiration, when I'm in a bad moment I always think about what he would do.
But at a professional level it's not good to spend all day comparing ourselves with him." Badosa hasn't had a great clay season but she is among favorites for the French Open title.