Alcaraz's respect for Nadal grows after tough stretch

Carlos Alcaraz believes fatigue contributed to the leg issue that troubled him in his Barcelona Open final defeat and the Spaniard said the gruelling nature of Europe’s claycourt swing gave him even more reason to marvel at Rafael Nadal’s success.

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After winning the Monte Carlo trophy last week, Alcaraz was seeking a third title in four years at Barcelona but the 21-year-old’s nine-match winning run on clay was snapped by Dane Holger Rune, who sealed a 7-6 (8/6), 6-2 victory on Sunday.

Alcaraz took a 2-1 lead in the second set but then needed a medical time-out to deal with the leg problem and was unable to turn the match around, leaving some fans worried about his fitness ahead of the Madrid Open, which begins tomorrow.

"That's what happens when you play so many matches and have so few days to rest. It’s so demanding and you have to give 100% every day,” Alcaraz said.

“Having played a tournament like Monte Carlo and arriving in Barcelona with few days to adapt is really tough.”