Retiring Nadal no match for 'animal' Alcaraz

Rafael Nadal admitted his fitness level was well off the tour's top players after falling on Oct 17 in straight sets to fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who described the exhibition match as "a little bit sad".

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The 38-year-old Nadal, who announced last week he would retire from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga in November, lost 6-3, 6-3 to the 21-year-old Alcaraz in the semi-finals of the Six Kings Slam event in Saudi Arabia.

Afterwards he described Alcaraz, winner of the French Open and Wimbledon in 2024, as an "animal" and acknowledged he was not competing at the highest level.

"I have not much pressure here. I'm just trying to have fun," he told a post-match press conference.

"I know I'm going to play against players that... are in much better shape than me because they are on the professional tour and winning tournaments."

Alcaraz said he knew the Riyadh crowd was against him but wanted to let Nadal, winner of 22 Grand Slams, including 14 French Open titles, bask in the support.