Carlos Alcaraz has stumbled in his efforts to emulate Rafael Nadal at the Barcelona Open, having lost the final to Holger Rune.
Alcaraz has an injury worry after the Barcelona Open final, in which the top seed lost 7-6(8-6), 6-2 to sixth seed Rune.
Rune labelled Alcaraz the world’s best clay player ahead of the Monte Carlo Masters, which the Spaniard went on to win.
But he has now been denied a third success in Barcelona, with Rune winning the event for the first time to earn his fifth ATP title.
Alcaraz lifted the Barcelona Open trophy in 2022 and 2023, immediately after his compatriot Rafael Nadal clinched a 12th success.
Rafael Nadal messages Carlos Alcaraz after Barcelona Open final
It represents a record at the Spanish tournament, with Nadal also boasting a record five titles at the Madrid Open.
And Alcaraz has now revealed an interaction between the Spanish duo ahead of his trip to the Spanish capital.
READ MORE: What French Open organisers have planned for Rafael Nadal at this year’s tournament
“He wrote to me,” Alcaraz said of Nadal. “To give me some encouragement, telling me he hopes that I’m not injured and that in a few days I can train again and give my all.”
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz help Spanish players dominate Madrid Open
Alcaraz twice received treatment on an upper leg issue against Rune, which comes at a worrying time of the season.
The Madrid Open gets underway on Wednesday, although the Spanish star has been handed a bye in round one of the ATP Masters 1000 event.
READ MORE: Carlos Alcaraz admits what Holger Rune did in the Barcelona Open final which really surprised him
He boasts the exact same record in Madrid as he does in Barcelona, winning the former in 2022 and 2023.
The four-time Grand Slam champion defeated Germans Alexander Zverev and Jan-Lennard Struff in the respective finals.
| Year | Titles | Tournaments |
| 2023 | 6 | Wimbledon (Outdoor/Grass) London / Queen’s Club (Outdoor/Grass) ATP Masters 1000 Madrid (Outdoor/Clay) Barcelona (Outdoor/Clay) ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells (Outdoor/Hard) Buenos Aires (Outdoor/Clay) |
| 2022 | 5 | US Open (Outdoor/Hard) ATP Masters 1000 Madrid (Outdoor/Clay) Barcelona (Outdoor/Clay) ATP Masters 1000 Miami (Outdoor/Hard) Rio de Janeiro (Outdoor/Clay) |
Alcaraz and Nadal have helped home players dominate the tournament, with Spaniards winning eight titles since the inaugural edition in 2002.
Along with the two wins of the former and five of the latter, Juan Carlos Ferrero emerged victorious in 2003.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
