Carlos Alcaraz remembered Rafael Nadal at the time of starting the comeback: “I have never seen myself dead. Worse things have been seen. My situation reminds me a little of when Nadal had the 2009 semifinal with Verdasco, who he thought he wouldn’t be able to, and then he broke a fifth set. In a Grand Slam final we can never say that we are tired“.
Nadal won the fratricide between the two members of the ‘Armada’ 17 years ago, in five hours and 14 minutes, with a score of 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(2) 6-7(1) y 6-4. He would then stand for another five sets to defeat Roger Federer himself in the fight for the title.
Present in Sunday’s final
Nadal has landed in Melbourne as a KIA ambassador and will preside over the men’s final on Sunday. It is worth remembering that the Spaniard is the only member of the ‘Armada’ that appears in the honors of the Australian competition.
James Whitfield
James Whitfield is Archysport's racket sports and golf specialist, bringing a global perspective to tennis, badminton, and golf coverage. Based between London and Singapore, James has covered Grand Slam tournaments, BWF World Tour events, and major golf championships on five continents. His reporting combines on-the-ground access with deep knowledge of the technical and strategic elements that separate elite athletes from the rest of the field. James is fluent in English, French, and Mandarin, giving him unique access to athletes across the global tennis and badminton circuits.
