What Andre Agassi told Carlos Alcaraz to ask Rafael Nadal when he retired from tennis

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Rafael Nadal broke several records during his time in tennis, cementing his place amongst the legends of the game.

The Spaniard took home 22 Grand Slams throughout his career, winning a record 14 French Open titles.

Nadal won his final Major at Roland Garros in 2022, beating Norway’s Casper Ruud in the final, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0.

He retired from tennis two years later, when Spain were beaten by the Netherlands in the 2024 Davis Cup quarterfinals.

Earlier that year, one American tennis legend told one of the ATP Tour’s biggest stars to ask Nadal one important question.

Andre Agassi told Carlos Alcaraz to ask Rafael Nadal what he would’ve done differently in his tennis career

In the Spaniard’s new Netflix documentary, Carlos Alcaraz and Andre Agassi can be seen having a conversation in Las Vegas last year.

“[Do] you spend a lot of time with Rafa [Nadal], or not so much?” asked Agassi.

“Not so much,” replied Alcaraz.

The 54-year-old then advised Alcaraz on what he should ask his fellow Spaniard when he retires from tennis.

“My suggestion, when he decides [to retire], you should reach him and ask him for the things he would do differently, you know, be smart,” said Agassi.

“You always want to learn in ten minutes what took somebody ten years.”

Agassi, Alcaraz, and Nadal were in Las Vegas last year for the ‘Netflix Slam’, an exhibition event between the two Spanish stars.

Alcaraz shared just how important the event was to him during the documentary.

“I went to Las Vegas to play a match with Rafael Nadal,” he said.

“For me, it was really important, simply because I played against my idol.”

It was Alcaraz who prevailed in a match tiebreaker, 3-6, 6-4, [14-12], beating his older rival in a Las Vegas thriller.

The pair played one further exhibition match in Saudi Arabia later that year, at the inaugural Six Kings Slam.

Having beaten Holger Rune in his opening match, Alcaraz played Nadal in the semi-finals, beating him once more, this time in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.

Advancing to the final, Alcaraz lost to Jannik Sinner, 7-6, 3-6, 3-6, as the Italian took victory in Riyadh.

Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal’s head-to-head record

Alcaraz may have had the better of their exhibition exchanges, but who had the edge when they battled it out on the ATP Tour?

Playing three matches in total, Nadal won the head-to-head 2-1, securing two victories against Alcaraz during his younger years.

The pair met for the first time at the 2021 Madrid Open, a ‘special moment’ for the 21-year-old.

“I remember the first time I played against Rafael Nadal at the Madrid Open,” said Alcaraz.

“It was a special moment, I was turning 18.

“You see Rafael Nadal doing his routine, jumping, sprinting all around. You could see it on my face, I didn’t know where to hide.

“Scared s——- would be an understatement.”

Alcaraz was unable to overcome the nerves, as he fell to a convincing 1-6, 2-6 defeat against the number one seed.

Nadal extended his head-to-head lead with a win over Alcaraz in Indian Wells one year later, before the youngster finally got off the mark in their third career meeting.

In an instant classic, Alcaraz beat Nadal in three sets, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3, to book his place in the semi-finals of the Madrid Open.

Alcaraz went on to win the title in Madrid that year, before defending his crown in 2023.

The Spaniard will begin his search for a third Madrid Open title when he takes on the winner of Yoshihito Nishioka and Zizou Bergs on Saturday, April 26.