Interesting similarities emerge between Carlos Alcaraz's 2024 season and Rafael Nadal's 2010 season after Wimbledon 2024 final

Carlos Alcaraz's victory over Novak Djokovic in the 2024 Wimbledon finals has etched his name in history. He joined an elite list of players, including Roger Federer and Djokovic, to successfully defend their Wimbledon titles. His run at the Grand Slams this year has also drawn a striking similarity to Rafael Nadal's 2010 season.

Similar to Nadal's Australian Open run in 2010, where he retired due to a knee injury in the quarterfinals against Andy Murray, Alcaraz's journey at this year's tournament ended under the Rod Laver Arena lights with a loss to the dominant Alexander Zverev (6-1, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4).

Rafael Nadal's unbelievable record at the Roland-Garros is an impressive feat in itself. In 2010, he won the French Open (his fifth) without dropping a single set, marking unreal dominance. Carlos Alcaraz mirrored Nadal's dominance at the tournament in 2024 as he claimed his first title. He defeated Zverev in the final, avenging his loss in the Australian Open quarter-final.

In 2010, Nadal won his second Wimbledon title, defeating Tomáš Berdych in the final. Similarly, this year, Carlos Alcaraz again defeated World No. 2 Novak Djokovic in the final, just like he did in 2023, clinching his second Wimbledon title.

2010 turned out to be one of Nadal's best seasons ever. He triumphed over Djokovic in the US Open to cap off the year magnificently.

However, Djokovic proved why he is the best in the world by winning the US Open after a Wimbledon final defeat last season. This makes the final Slam of the year even more exciting. As Alcaraz looks to continue his top form and replicate Nadal's excellent 2010 campaign, Djokovic will aim to repeat his feat from last year and build upon his incredible hard-court record.

Post-match, Alcaraz said that he was delighted to retain the trophy, which he considers "the most beautiful."

"It is a dream for me for winning this trophy. In an interview when I was 11 or 12 years old, I said that my dream is to win the Wimbledon. So, I'm repeating my dream and I want to keep going. But it's obviously a great feeling to play in this beautiful court to lift this trophy. For me, this is the most beautiful tournament and court and trophy," Alcaraz said in his post-match interview.

Rafael Nadal And Carlos Alcaraz lead Spanish tennis over different generations

The Netflix Slam, A Live Netflix Sports Even

While football has forever dominated its popularity in Spain, tennis has seen a remarkable rise over the past few decades, evolving into a global powerhouse. This journey began with legendary players like Manuel Santana and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, who laid the foundation with the nation's first Grand Slam victories.

David Ferrer was another notable player who proudly carried the Spanish legacy. However, when Rafael Nadal became an international icon and one of the best players of all time, Spanish tennis received worldwide attention. Nadal's emergence in the early 2000s marked the beginning of a completely new era. Twenty years later, another Spaniard, Carlos Alcaraz, has risen to the highest stage, resembling Nadal's strength, work ethic, and game style.

To celebrate Alcaraz's second Wimbledon title, Nadal took to Instagram. Here's what he wrote:

"Congratulations Carlos!!!! What a great moment, another one. Big Hug!!!!”

Alcaraz has already defeated Djokovic twice, and his recent achievements hint at potential dominance in the future. He has already won four Grand Slams, becoming only the second men's player after the great Roger Federer to win their first four grand slam finals. (US Open 2022, Wimbledon 2023, French Open 2024, Wimbledon 2024).