Rafael Nadal lost 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 to rising star Carlos Alcaraz, who twisted his ankle in the middle of the match, Friday in the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 in Madrid, tournament of resumption of the former world No.1 a month and a half after a stress fracture to a rib.
The day before, for his second match on ocher in 2022 and a fortnight before Roland-Garros (May 22-June 5), the Spaniard had fought for more than three hours and dismissed four match points to overcome David Goffin.
Alcaraz, who entered the top 10 before his 19th birthday, which he celebrated on Thursday, will challenge world No.1 Novak Djokovic for the first time on Saturday in the semi-finals.
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Rafael Nadal
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