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Major champions Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz will battle at The Netflix Slam on March 3, 2024, at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Netflix will stream an entertaining battle between two compatriots, with more players joining the show in the upcoming weeks or months.
Nadal and Alcaraz should have played in March this year, but “The Slam: Nadal vs. Alcaraz” had to be canceled due to Rafa’s Australian Open injury. Now, the veteran and the young gun have arranged the meeting as Rafa feels much better ahead of the new season.
Rafa and Carlos met thrice in 2021 and 2022, with the more experienced Spaniard scoring two wins. Their rivalry kicked off in Madrid 2021 on Carlos’ 18th birthday, with Rafa earning a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over an injured rival.
In March next year, they embraced a memorable battle in the Indian Wells semi-final, with Nadal prevailing 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in three hours and 12 minutes.
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz will play in Las Vegas in March.
It was an intense battle, and Rafa claimed only two points more than Carlos.
The more experienced Spaniard seized six out of 21 break chances, losing serve five times but moving over the top with a fine performance in the decider for his 53rd Masters 1000 final. The conditions were challenging, and two rivals gave their best to produce the A-game and entertain the crowd.
They fought for over an hour in the opener, and Rafa clinched it 6-4 with a late break. They embraced five consecutive breaks in the second set, and Alcaraz grabbed three to take it 6-4 and introduce a decider after two hours and 21 minutes.
Nadal denied three break points in the final set’s fifth game and held after deuce at 3-3. Rafa secured a break at 4-3 with a volley winner and fired a service winner in game nine to come victorious in a memorable clash. Alcaraz responded in Madrid, beating Nadal 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 en route to the semi-final, becoming the youngest player with a clay-court win over the king of clay.
Carlos overcame an injury in the second set and started all over in the decider, overpowering Rafa and beating his idol for the first time. Nadal and Alcaraz will compete at the upcoming Australian Open, and we can see their battle in the early rounds, with Rafa dropping out from the top-600 for the first time in two decades.
