Nadal speaks out on Alcaraz's loss: Let him be, harsh criticism is meaningless.

Alcaraz's results in this year's Sunshine Double were disappointing. He fell to Medvedev at the Indian Wells Open and then was unexpectedly beaten by Korda at the Miami Open. His win over Fonseca was a sole bright spot, yet skepticism from outside is quickly mounting. Despite this, as the clay court season nears, Nadal refuted these noises.

On March 24, Nadal was awarded an honorary doctorate by Madrid Polytechnic University, but when he discussed Alcaraz's Miami loss, public attention swiftly shifted to this matter.

“Should we really be overly concerned about two losses? I don't think it's necessary,” Nadal stated. “It makes no sense; we shouldn't demand more from him. A player who just won the Australian Open, holds seven Grand Slam titles, and is ranked world number one—should he win every match throughout the year? That’s simply impossible.”

“I believe we should all applaud and be grateful for everything Carlos has achieved, because ultimately, what he has brought to Spanish sports was unimaginable 30 years ago. Perhaps lately we have become accustomed to his brilliance, but I always understand that everything Carlos, other Spanish athletes, and athletes from all countries, accomplish is incredibly difficult.”

Nadal returned to his core point, once again dismissing external noise: “Carlos is Spanish, he is one of us. From that perspective, should we worry about two losses? I think it’s meaningless, and we cannot criticize him further.”

The current situation also supports Nadal's stance. Not winning titles in March does not erase Alcaraz's excellent start to the season; his competitive level at the beginning of the year remains top-tier. He captured the Australian Open title, becoming the youngest male player to achieve a career Grand Slam; also won an ATP 500 title in Doha; and before the Indian Wells Open, he set a 16-match winning streak and firmly held the world number one ranking.

Nadal understands this pressure better than anyone, having carried the flag for Spanish tennis for years, winning 22 Grand Slam titles and spending 209 weeks as world number one. And Nadal is not “fighting alone”; after this upset loss, other tennis legends also voiced their support for Alcaraz.

When Alcarás faced Korda, he trailed 3-6, 3-5, seemingly on verge of a straight-set defeat. Under immense pressure, the Spanish player resiliently fought back, breaking the 25-year-old American twice to force a deciding set. However, Korda regained control in the third set, securing a break in the seventh game to clinch the match, earning his first career victory over a world number one.

Prior to this encounter, Alcaraz held a clear advantage in their meetings: after losing their first match at the 2022 Monte Carlo Masters, he won three consecutive times without dropping a set. This defeat marks a shift in momentum; Alcaraz, who started the 2026 season with a 16-match winning streak, has now lost two of his last three matches, with a total record of 17 wins and 2 losses.

Former WTA world number one Henin, in an interview with French Eurosport, praised Korda and shared her view: “Players throughout the year face Alcaraz and Sinner with some degree of suppression; even when they beat them, we still question those winners. They are ultimately human; the tour competition is exceptionally brutal. Alcaraz will grow from this, and perhaps we will see a better version of him in Monte Carlo, just like last year.”

“Regardless, this victory means much more to Korda than this loss does to Alcaraz, even though he hates losing and came to Miami with higher goals. He won’t lose his magic because of two tough tournaments; he just lacked a bit of energy and endurance, which is entirely understandable considering his achievements over the past year,” she added.

Now, Alcaraz turns his focus to the future, preparing for his title defense at the Monte Carlo Masters, a key event in the clay season. In 2025, he delivered a stunning performance there, defeating Sinnerdolo, Altmaier, Fils, and Fokina, and in the final, he rallied after losing the first set to overcome Musetti for the championship.

With many points to defend during the clay season, Alcaraz faces significant pressure in this tournament. After a brief adjustment following the Miami Open, external attention now centers on whether Alcaraz can quickly return to peak form.（Source: Tennis Home Author: Spark）