Carlos Alcaraz won the first-ever Netflix Slam on Sunday in Las Vegas, defeating 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal 3-6, 6-4 (14-12).
In front of a sell-out crowd of 9,489 people, which included Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Charlize Theron, Danai Gurira, Logan Lerman, and Manu Rios, Rafael Nadal said he felt “much better than expected” during the exhibition match. Nadal had been sidelined for almost a year due to a hip flexor injury before sustaining a muscle injury at the beginning of this season.
The exhibition match, which was postponed from last year owing to Rafael Nadal’s injury, included two superstar Spaniards. It was timed to coincide with the players’ arrival at Indian Wells this week. The match was the latest in Netflix’s push for live streaming events.
After missing several months due to injury, Nadal is making his comeback to the tour. Alcaraz, who hurt his right ankle at the Rio Open, also faced some physical challenges during the match.
“As a player, it’s fortunate that I won’t encounter him frequently,” Nadal remarked.
“As a fan, I wish to continue enjoying his company for a very long time. We should be ecstatic that someone like Carlos is visiting Spain.
“He is a fantastic player. Even at just 20 years old, he has already won two Grand Slams in addition to a few other competitions.”
In what may be his last year on the ATP Tour, Rafael Nadal expressed his desire to avoid any setbacks due to injury at Indian Wells in order to be fully fit for the upcoming clay-court season.
The 37-year-old has indicated that his career may be coming to an end and missed this year’s Australian Open due to soreness in his surgically repaired hip. He has won 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles on the red clay of Roland Garros.
“I haven’t decided 100 percent, but whatever is left, leave it in the clay season,” Rafael Nadal stated in Spanish at a news conference held before the Netflix Slam match. “That’s how things are currently going. “I won’t be saying farewell since it would mean I’m giving up on playing. I hesitate to make this crucial remark since I’m not entirely sure I understand it. I haven’t been able to play for the past two years. You are being shown the way by life.”
Three-time Indian Wells champion Rafael Nadal takes on his opponent in the tournament’s opening round on Thursday in the Southern California desert. He has previously stated that he wanted to compete in both the French Open and the Olympics in Paris this year.
“How did I picture saying goodbye? I didn’t imagine it at first, as the more you imagine something, the closer you are to realizing it, “said the speaker. “I didn’t plan on doing it. I want to leave the court having had fun, being competitive, and saying goodbye. Time will tell whether or not that is possible.”
