“You know, as a fan of tennis, I always watch Rafa playing. I always want to watch the best players in the world playing the tournaments.

“And of course learning from them really close, here in the locker rooms, you know, around the club, the tournament for me is great. When I hear that (Nadal’s possible retirement), for me, it was tough to understand how it's gonna be without Rafa this year. Hopefully to see him next year that he's 100 per-cent.”

Alcaraz has lengthy been seen as tennis’ inheritor to Nadal. However, the teenager, who gained his maiden Grand Slam within the US on the backend of final yr, refused to be drawn on the comparisons of the pair on the identical age. 

He mentioned: “You know, it's different time when he was 20 years old. I can't say right now if I'm stronger right now than him at the same age. Of course he did great things at my age, but I can't answer that question.”