Rafael Nadal Congratulates Carlos Alcaraz on His First French Open Title

June 9, 2024 Jimm Sallivan

Carlos Alcaraz won his first French Open title on Sunday, taking down Alexander Zverev in a five-set thriller 6–3, 2–6, 5–7, 6–1, 6–2.

At 21 years old, Alcaraz became the youngest men’s player to win a Grand Slam title on all three surfaces: hard court, clay and grass. He’s also the first Spaniard to win the French Open since 14-time champion Rafael Nadal last won at Roland Garros in 2022.

As Nadal could possibly retire at the end of the 2024 season, many fans see Alcaraz as one of the next great men’s tennis players. So, it was fitting that Nadal wrote a congratulatory message on X, formerly known as Twitter, shortly after Alcaraz played his winning point Sunday.

“Congratulations @carlosalcaraz for this immense victory!!!! Big!!!! Very happy for your successes!!! #Vamos,” Nadal wrote.

Enhorabuena @carlosalcaraz por esta inmensa victoria!!!! Grande!!!! Muy contento por tus éxitos !!! 🇪🇸 #Vamos https://t.co/bIBbJhyh4B

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 9, 2024

Nadal lost in the first round to Zverev, which was only the fourth French Open loss of his career. Nadal holds the record for the most major titles won at a single tournament with 14 at Roland Garros. He was just 19 years old when he won his first French Open title in 2005.

Alcaraz will play at the next major event, Wimbledon, starting July 1 as the tournament’s reigning champion . He has now won three major titles in his young career.

13 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Rafael Nadal to Miss Wimbledon, Will Focus on Paris Olympics

Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday that he will miss 2024 Wimbledon to instead focus on preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

This news is huge as it could've been Nadal's final Wimbledon. He's a two-time Wimbledon champion, winning the tournament in 2008 and 2010. Although he hasn't officially made a retirement decision public, he's hinted over the last year that this year could be his final year on the tour.

His decision to miss Wimbledon boiled down to him wanting to solely train on clay courts for the Olympics, in which he will partner up with fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in doubles. He doesn't want to shift his training and play on grass courts in between.

"With this goal, we believe that the best for my body is not to change surface and keep playing on clay until then. It’s for this reason that I will miss playing at the Championships this year at Wimbledon," Nadal wrote on social media. "I am saddened not to be able to live this year the great atmosphere of that amazing event that will always be in my heart, and be with all the British fans that always gave me great support. I will miss you all."

With this goal, we believe that the best for my body is not to change surface and keep playing on clay until then. It’s for this reason that I will miss playing at the Championships this year at Wimbledon. I am saddened not to be able to live this year the great atmosphere of…
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 13, 2024

The 38-year-old has missed quite a bit of the season already because of abdominal injuries. He missed nearly the entire 2023 season because of a hip injury, meaning he also was absent for the 2023 Wimbledon tournament.

Nadal wrote that he will play in the Nordea Open in mid-July, which is played in Bastad, Sweden. It is a clay court tournament.

5 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner Prediction, Odds and Pick for French Open Semifinals

Two of the brightest stars in the sport of tennis meet with a first time spot in the French Open finals on the line.

Jannik Sinner is set to be the No. 1 player in the world for the first time in history, but will need to get past two-time Grand Slam champ Carlos Alcaraz, the No. 3 player in the world.

Both set to rule the sport, both elite on clay, both trying to win it all at Roland-Garros for the first time.

Here’s our full betting preview for the highly anticipated semifinal on Friday.

Spread

Moneyline

Total: 38.5 (Over -110/Under -120)

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

These two have a competitive head-to-head against one another, 5-4 in favor of the Spaniard, including each winning a match on clay. However, that doesn’t translate as much considering the two matches were in 2022 and 2019.

Sinner is enjoying a career run that includes an Australia Open title, moving closer to Alcaraz in terms of how he is viewed in the sport, but the odds are rightfully with the U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion, who entered the tournament as the favorite and has backed it up with a dominant run to date. Alcaraz has dropped only one set and looks primed to avenge his cramp issue in the semifinals last year against Novak Djokovic.

Sinner is 28-3 on the year, losing one match on clay (he did withdraw from another), but there is no denying that Alcaraz has far more upside between the two on this surface.

Instead of taking a side, I believe we are primed to see plenty of twists and turns in this one, including plenty of outstanding play.

The two players have consistently pushed each other, only two matches have been straight sets, and the lone Grand Slam meeting went to a deciding fifth that included two tiebreakers.

I expect at least four sets, and plenty of drawn out games with the potential of tiebreaks.

Over is my favorite way to bet this match.

PICK: OVER 38.5 Games (-110)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

3 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Carlos Alcaraz Announces Withdrawal From Italian Open Due to Arm Injury

World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz on Friday announced his withdrawal from the upcoming Italian Open, which begins on May 6 in Rome, in a post onto his account on X, formerly Twitter.

Alcaraz, whose bid to win a third straight Madrid Open fell short after a three-set loss to Andrey Rublev on Wednesday, revealed that he experienced "some discomfort" in his right forearm.

"I felt some pain after playing in Madrid, some discomfort in my arm. Today I did some tests and I have a muscle edema in my pronator teres, a consequence of my recent injury. Unfortunately I will not be able to play in Rome. I need to rest so I can recover and play 100% pain free. I am very sorry, I will see you next year @InteBNLdItalia," Alcaraz wrote.

Alcaraz first sustained the arm injury during a training session in Monaco prior to the start of the clay court season. The Spaniard was then forced to miss both the Monte Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open, but managed to tough out the injury in the Madrid Open, wearing a compression sleeve on his right arm.

It's unclear if Alcaraz will be healthy enough to play in the ATP Tour's second Grand Slam of the year, the French Open, which begins on May 20.

Alcaraz, 20, holds a 15-4 record and has won one singles title (Indian Wells) thus far in 2024.

US Sports News

Rafael Nadal Congratulates Carlos Alcaraz on His First French Open Title

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