“No need to worry about two losses”: Rafael Nadal defends Carlos Alcaraz after Miami Open setback

Rafael Nadal defended Carlos Alcaraz amid growing scrutiny over his recent results, speaking on the same day he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Polytechnic University of Madrid. “No need to worry about two losses; it makes no sense,” Nadal said, using the occasion to shift the focus back onto the bigger picture surrounding the World No. 1.

Alcaraz’s latest defeat came at the Miami Open, where he lost to Sebastian Korda, following an earlier setback against Daniil Medvedev in Indian Wells. The results have prompted discussion, but they arrive after a demanding stretch in the early part of the season.

That stretch included 16 consecutive victories, with titles at the Australian Open and ATP Doha, reinforcing the level Alcaraz has sustained throughout the year. Despite the recent losses, his overall trajectory remains consistent with his status at the top of the rankings.

Attention now turns to the clay-court swing, where Alcaraz returns home to reset ahead of a demanding period in which he will defend 4,300 ranking points. In that context, Nadal’s comments serve to temper expectations rather than amplify short-term concerns.

Nadal framed Alcaraz’s situation within a broader evaluation of sustained success. “I think we should all congratulate him and be grateful for everything Carlos is doing,” he said, adding, “He’s giving Spanish sport a level of success that would have been hard to imagine twenty or thirty years ago.”

He pointed to how repeated achievements can distort perception. “Maybe we’ve become used to it lately,” Nadal explained. “But I never lose sight of how difficult everything Carlos achieves really is.” He extended that point beyond nationality, stressing that such consistency is exceptional in any context.

From his perspective, focusing on isolated defeats overlooks the scale of Alcaraz’s output. “Worrying about two losses makes no sense, and you can’t ask for more than what he’s already giving,” Nadal said, reinforcing the idea that expectations must remain grounded.

Nadal also addressed Alcaraz’s visible frustration during his Miami loss, describing it as part of the natural demands of elite competition. “No matter how successful you are, everyone has the right to have a day when they feel frustrated or tired,” he said, framing the reaction as normal rather than concerning.

He acknowledged that Alcaraz himself might reflect differently on that moment. “When he sees himself, he probably would have preferred not to show it,” Nadal noted. “There was no need to display it; you feel it inside and keep it to yourself.” Still, he emphasised that such reactions remain understandable.

Expanding further, Nadal reiterated that fluctuations are inevitable. “We can all have a day when things don’t go well or when you feel more tired than usual,” he said. “It’s completely respectable and, from the perspective of another athlete, even more understandable.”

He concluded with a broader reality check on expectations surrounding the World No. 1. “When someone has just won the Australian Open, has seven Grand Slams and is the world number one… what, is he going to win every match of the year?” Nadal said. “That’s simply not going to happen.”

Earlier in the day, Nadal was named Doctor Honoris Causa by the Polytechnic University of Madrid, one of the highest distinctions awarded by an academic institution. The university recognised him as “the best Spanish athlete in history,” adding another milestone to his career beyond tennis.

“For someone who has dedicated his life to sport, receiving an honorary doctorate from an institution of reference in engineering, science and innovation has a very special meaning,” Nadal said. “I receive this distinction not only as personal recognition, but also as recognition of sport and the values it represents.”