Carla Suarez Navarro believes Alcaraz can fill Nadal void in retirement: "Perhaps he can be a replacement

Former Spanish player Carla Suarez Navarro thinks that Carlos Alcaraz could fill the void left by Rafael Nadal when he retires.

Spain has been accustomed to having a top player in tennis for many years and Carlos Alcaraz seems to continue that trend as he's currently ranked number one in the world. The Spaniard is the brightest talent to come out of the country since Nadal who ended up having one of the greatest tennis careers of all time.

Nadal on the other hand is slowly coming to the end of his career and Suarez Navarro thinks it's great for Spanish tennis to have Carlitos ready to take over:

"Young players are coming and it is lucky that we have Carlitos, we should enjoy him and I think he will give us a lot of success in the future; Perhaps he can be a replacement (to Rafael Nadal), because, obviously, Rafa continues, but we are in his last years."

Read also

"I don't think she will ever have the opportunity to play again" - Navratilova on Peng Shuai after accused politician seen out in public

She's not the only one that expressed that with some former players noting the similarities as well. Speaking further on Alcaraz, she said:

"Yes, probably, he is a very complete player at his age. It is true that the players have a lot of room for improvement at 18 and 19 years old, Alcaraz does too, but he is very, very complete. And, when I say very complete, I mean on a tennis, physical and mental level. What I would highlight is his mental strength. At his age, he has saved match points in several of his titles. The team around him is also very important."

Read also

Snooker king Ronnie O'Sullivan picks Djokovic and Federer among favourite all-time athletes: "I don't have much time for people who don't win"