Rafael Nadal, the retired 22-time Grand Slam champion, issued a stern warning to compatriot Carlos Alcaraz as the 22-year-old prepares to face Jannik Sinner in the US Open 2025 men’s final on September 7, 2025, at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Nadal, speaking to *The Athletic* on September 5, praised Alcaraz’s “magic” and “unpredictable” style but raised concerns about his tendency to make more mistakes than Sinner due to his high-risk approach. “Carlos is more magic, he’s more unpredictable, he can play at a level that probably sometimes Jannik cannot,” Nadal said. “But at the same time, he’s making more mistakes, too—he can play better, but he can play worse, and it’s about finding the balance.”
Nadal, who faced Alcaraz three times on tour and partnered him in doubles at the 2024 Olympics, emphasized the need for tactical refinement. “From my point of view, Carlos can improve a little bit the tactical way to approach some matches. Sometimes it feels like he always plays for every big shot, and sometimes, he doesn’t need that much,” he noted, suggesting Alcaraz could benefit from more conservative play to minimize errors. This critique follows Alcaraz’s dominant run to the final, where he hasn’t dropped a set, including a 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2 semifinal win over Novak Djokovic, holding serve in 68 of 69 games.
Nadal contrasted Alcaraz’s flair with Sinner’s metronomic consistency, praising the Italian’s forehand rhythm and quick transitions from defense to attack. “He puts a rhythm on the forehand that is very difficult to follow,” Nadal said of Sinner, who defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach his fifth straight major final. The Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry, the first to feature three Grand Slam finals in a single season (French Open, Wimbledon, US Open), adds intensity, with Alcaraz leading 9-5 head-to-head but Sinner winning at Wimbledon 2025.
Alcaraz, aiming to be the first man since Neale Fraser in 1960 to win the US Open without dropping a set, acknowledged his growth in maturity, telling *Outlook India*, “I’m just getting to know myself much better, what I need on and off the court.” Nadal’s message underscores the challenge: Alcaraz’s electrifying style, while crowd-pleasing, must be balanced to overcome Sinner’s precision. Posts on X, like @TheTennisLetter, echoed Nadal’s view, noting Alcaraz’s “unpredictable” edge but higher error rate. With the World No. 1 ranking at stake, Nadal’s advice could be pivotal for Alcaraz to secure his sixth major and cement his legacy.
