Rafael Nadal made his preference clear for the Australian Open final and managed to do it without a trophy in his hands.
Back in the crowd at Rod Laver Arena, Nadal explained why he would cheer for his countryman Carlos Alcaraz over Novak Djokovic, and the reasons were part teammate loyalty, part long memory and part practical read on stamina.
Nadal Picks Alcaraz — And Why It Matters
First of all, it’s going to be a pleasure to watch the final live.
Rafael Nadal
Nadal’s endorsement was not a surprise to anyone who remembers the Spain teams at the Paris Olympics and Davis Cup, where the two shared courts and responsibilities before Nadal retired.
He made a point of saying that if Novak wins he will be happy because what Djokovic is doing is “spectacular,” but added plainly that if he had to pick someone to support, it would be Carlos.
The Road To Rod Laver
Alcaraz reached his first Melbourne final after a famously gruelling semi against Alexander Zverev, described in the original reporting as a “sweat-drenched five-hour-and-twenty-seven-minute epic,” during which he suffered vomiting and cramp.
Djokovic’s semi was also monumental and evoked memories of his 2012 Rod Laver final against Nadal, itself a five-hour-and-fifty-three-minute classic that Djokovic said he channelled while battling for the win.
There is history on the line beyond a single trophy: Alcaraz was chasing a career Grand Slam and Djokovic aimed to become the oldest man to win a major while adding a record-shattering 25th title to his collection.
Recovery, Rivalry And The Aftermath
Nadal publicly weighed the physical picture, saying the long semi will test both players but that Alcaraz, being younger, has an “even better chance of recovering than Novak,” according to the interview excerpts in the reports.
The reports also picked up on the on-court drama from the semi, including Zverev’s protest about treatment for Alcaraz mid-match; tournament rules allow heat-related treatment in some circumstances, which complicated the narrative more than the scoreboard did.
Djokovic has a remarkable affinity for Melbourne, having won on Rod Laver Arena 10 times, and he admitted after his semi that the night had a surreal feel and that he had revisited the intensity of past finals to find a path through.
Beyond the immediate tactics and recovery chat, the final carried larger storylines: Alcaraz had a chance to become the youngest man in the Open era to complete the career Grand Slam and to eclipse Nadal’s own timing for that landmark.
That claim is stark in the record books: Nadal completed his career slam at 24 years and 101 days, while Alcaraz completed it at an age reported as 22 years, 8 months and 27 days, making this a passing of a literal generational torch.
The head-to-head between Djokovic and Alcaraz was tight going into the match, with the Serbian still a slim leader at 5-4, and their recent meetings included a Paris Olympics gold-medal clash that Djokovic won two years earlier.
Reactions after the final landed fast and from everywhere. Nadal tweeted a straightforward congratulations, and fellow stars from the WTA and former coaches piled on with praise, celebrating Alcaraz’s mixture of shotmaking and mental steel.
Nadal also shared a small personal regret ahead of the match, telling local media that the nostalgia of the event made him wish he had timed his visit to reunite with old rivals in a different way, but that there would be time for conversations later.
In the end this final was part theatre, part heavyweight contest and part shifting landscape; Nadal sat in the stands, picked a compatriot, and reminded everyone that friendships and chapter endings in tennis do not cancel out appreciation for a brilliant rival.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
