Carlos Alcaraz and His Team Emotionally React to Rafael Nadal's Retirement News

Alcaraz idolized his fellow countryman when he first started playing tennis.

Doubles partners for Spain Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal react to a point at the 2024 Paris Olympics. / Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Rafael Nadal brought out a lot of emotions in the tennis world on Thursday when he announced his retirement from the sport following the Davis Cup in November.

One player was very impacted by Nadal's retirement news—Carlos Alcaraz. The fellow Spaniard has shared throughout the start of his promising career how big of an inspiration and role model Nadal has been for him in his life. Alcaraz met Nadal at a very young age and even got to play doubles in the 2024 Paris Olympics with him.

Alcaraz posted a sentimental message for his idol on social media, but a video has now dropped showing Alcaraz's live reaction to learning Nadal's news. His tennis team surrounded him and his phone, and some of them began tearing up. It was clear they were in disbelief.

"Honestly, I couldn't believe it when I watched it," Alcaraz said in a press conference on Thursday. "It's tough to accept it. I was in shock, a little bit. Really difficult news for everybody, even tougher for me that he's been my idol since I started playing tennis. I look up to him. Thanks to him I really wanted to become a professional tennis player. It is a shame for tennis and for me."

"Thanks to him I really wanted to become a professional tennis player"

A beautiful moment as @CarlosAlcaraz and team watch Rafa's retirement video together in the gym in Shanghai 💙🥹 pic.twitter.com/celMxjL83r

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 10, 2024

Alcaraz will be competing for Spain at the Davis Cup in November, meaning he'll be able to watch his favorite tennis player retire in person.

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