Moment Carlos Alcaraz was left ‘in shock’ after finding out about Rafael Nadal’s retirement – before paying heartfelt tribute to his idol’s career

Carlos Alcaraz was visibly taken aback upon learning of Rafael Nadal’s impending retirement. The young tennis star, who was preparing for a match in Shanghai, was shown a farewell video from Nadal by his team. In a moment captured on camera, Alcaraz and his team huddled around a phone, watching the emotional message.

Alcaraz, just 21 years old and ranked world number two, expressed his disbelief during a press conference, stating, “I couldn’t believe it, I’m in shock.” Despite his emotional state, Alcaraz went on to compete but lost in straight sets to Tomas Machac during the Shanghai Masters quarter-final.

Later, Alcaraz paid tribute to Nadal, reflecting on how much the tennis legend had influenced his career. In a heartfelt message, he reminisced about watching Nadal on TV as a child and later having the honor of competing alongside him at events like Roland Garros and the Olympics.

Alcaraz praised Nadal’s unparalleled legacy and expressed how much he would miss him once he retires after the Davis Cup, scheduled from November 19 to 24 in Malaga. Nadal’s retirement marks the end of an era in tennis, with his contributions leaving a lasting impact on players like Alcaraz and fans worldwide.