Carlos Alcaraz vs Rafael Nadal - The Trilogy | The Prince Meets the King ● Extended Highlights

Staggering. This is just ridiculous. Oh, it's one another. Come on. This is getting crazy. It is a massive day in the young career of Carlos Alcaraz. I think it's a few 18-year-olds would like a hit with Rafa on their birthday. I'm not sure Rafa's going to be too friendly today though. What do you think the message from Ferrero will have been, Cole? I think already the evidence in the first couple of points is he can do damage here. And shown he's willing to do that. Sebastien Mert, Dahl's father, he was in Barcelona all week. It's a stinger. And there's the first break. Didn't make enough first serves, did he? A breathtaking exchange. Alcaraz did so much good stuff and still wasn't able to overcome the great man. Well, what an amazing point. Just a little concern here for Alcaraz because I don't think he's doubled over. It's his abs, isn't it? Yeah, this is worrying because... Still just assessing the injury now. Core is so much the engine room, isn't it? Of a tennis player as well. Perfect finish. What a point from Nadal. Rafael Nadal, absolutely relentless. He has won 21 of 27 points played. 5-0. Still a fair bit there, didn't he? And he does just that. We saw the change-up, didn't we? Alcaraz stepping back to return the second. Some clean hitting from the five-time champion here in Madrid. Well, in many ways it's a little unfair to compare Alcaraz to Nadal. It's quality. It really is. Big backhand. Nadal turned 18, 3rd of June 2004. A few months before that he actually got his first win against the world number one. A return of impeccable length. It always feels as if he's overplaying, don't you? Not to be. He's misfiring. Still one of the next big things in the sport. That's nice. That's worked well against Nadal. If you've been able to execute it over the years. Yeah, that was Djokovic-esque, wasn't it? Lay down a marker to these young guys. Quality hitting. Perhaps his best period of the match so far. Yeah, even all the defensive skills of the great man couldn't keep him at bay there. Big hitting. Forcing his way through Nadal. And you feel as if he's relaxing into the match now. Tremendous from the 18-year-old. Who at last has got something to feel good about out here. So tough defending out of his backhand corner, isn't he? Staggering. We saw a similar one, didn't we, in Barcelona. I think it may have been even better on that occasion to continue playing in their mid-30s. Weighted that one to perfection. Kind of sums it up a little bit today, doesn't it? Nice transition to the net. And he prolongs this one just a little longer. Thought of that as a junior. Stunning bit of skill from Alcaraz. Nadal is there waiting to mop up. And he can move, can't he? Speedy Gonzalez across the ground here. I don't think top 20 will happen for Alcaraz this year. But you wouldn't be surprised next year if he starts to push towards that kind of mark. Rafael Nadal proves too strong for the birthday boy here in Madrid. Unquestionably, we will see more of Carlos Alcaraz. Just 18 years of age. He's got a bright future. But this man remains the present. OK, guys. Same conditions as the previous rounds. Netibax, 25 seconds. Sounds like Nacho's been on the double espressos as well. He's ready for it. Incredible. Quite incredible. Almost from the word go. How's that for a warning shot? Oh, what a change-up. Just long, well left. Good judgement from the youngster. Nadal's down. The backhand's good. Another entertaining exchange. What a hold of serve. Great change-up from Nadal. Just long. I like the change-up. Different pace, different shape. Gets his reward then. Oh, brilliant. Was one step ahead. Bit of extra pace off the ground from Rafa that time. Oh, yes. Seen a few of those from this man over the years. It's good. He's got the break. What a return. And there's the speed again. Quickly up to the short volley. Seen that two or three times. All three saved. And another impressive hold. Remember that hold of serve in the second game of the match? That's not coming back. Oh, just kisses the net. That's well done. Nice, crisp volley. That's big tennis. Well, no way has he missed the short forehand. A rush of blood. Just nudges it wide. Perhaps again caught the wind. Oh, is it good? It was all going on. Just missed. Larry Ellison wasn't sure. Did really well with the overhead. Extra tricky. Breeze to drop sometimes. And items to be put back into place. He's missed it. Well, he converts. Just nudging the return back into play. That was enough. Awesome improvisations. Taking all sorts right now. Ball moving around. Continues that 100% record. Up close and personal. And Nadal comes out on top. It's remarkable. Able to create any rallies at all. Another mind-boggling point. Ball jumping sideways at times. It's a credit to the way these two are playing. Hukkaraz not giving up the fight there. Putting himself on the line. What a point from Nadal. Oh, that's incredible in the circumstances. I mean, how they're stringing together. He's missed it. Chan slips away. That's well done. Great return. Oh, razor-sharp reactions. Nadal digging deep. It's long. Gave it everything. Another one saved. That's six now in this game. Impossible to track down. What a lob to finally convert. 19 minutes, 42 seconds. Remarkable. Hukkaraz will serve for the craziest of second sets. It's been a good recovery after the initial miss. It's a great backhand. Drilling that one down the line. Oh, incredible volley. Incredible reactions on such a big point. It's a remarkable save from Hukkaraz. Looked as if the ball was past him. It will be a decider. Second set played in near-impossible conditions at times. This is just ridiculous from the 18-year-old. The consistency and control somehow played this lob down the line and kept it in the court. Tremendous exchange. The wind just dropping a touch and the quality. Increasing ball by ball during that exchange. It's off the charts from Hukkaraz. Many things this guy can't do with a racket in his hand. How has he even got a racket on that ball, let alone controlled it into the court? Double point. For the first time in this match, it's the Hukkaraz cross-court backhand sealing the deal. Crazy defense this time. Needed all Nadal's attention. It's sensational. Another great point from Nadal. How did that come back? Oh, what a volley. Next level from Nadal. How does he do it? How does he win these points? Oh, continues to batter. Those forehands in Nadal's direction. Oh, this tennis is off the charts all of a sudden. An enthralling game goes Nadal's way. Kicking himself. Completely mistimed the short backhand. Almost. What a point. It's a standing ovation for these two incredible competitors. Hukkaraz moving unbelievably well. Oh, he's won another. Come on. This is getting crazy. Hukkaraz can't believe his eyes. That shall not pass. Nadal is everywhere at the net. Reading the play, Hukkaraz must have thought that was past him. And yet the racket comes out of nowhere. And not only that, but he makes the volley. That was pressure building. Too good. Quite brilliant from Nadal. Nadal takes his win streak to 20 matches this season. Took his game to another level in the closing stages, particularly the net play. It was out of this world at times. It is a fifth Indian Wells final for the Spaniard. A 53rd Masters final. Is that a serve from Rifa? I think it's a serve. So our second quarterfinal. Tremendously good start. Oh, it's landed in. Yeah, just sat up. Now with the firepower that Hukkaraz possesses in the forehand, it was always going to be trouble for Nadal. Oh, such a great pickup from Nadal. He saved a match point yesterday with the drop shot. Nadal, we barely saw him use it, really. Breaks eventually. Oh, yeah. Caught so quickly, Carlos Alcaraz. It's just ferocious hitting from Carlos Alcaraz. Yeah, it's very clever. That's too good from Nadal. Just flattens out that backhand. What a great point. So much work on the forehands initially from Alcaraz. I mean, this is just a ridiculous level right now from Carlos Alcaraz. He's found the line again. This is absolutely remarkable right now from Carlos Alcaraz. Players have played incredible sets of tennis. A jaw-dropping opening set of tennis from Carlos Alcaraz. How impressive was that? Yeah, it's just not good enough with the drop shot. And he does hold. Just appears as though there's a little bit of a drop here. Calmly done. That's nice. It's just so clever from Carlos Alcaraz. Nadal would never have expected that. Some holds from Love 40 down. That's a great dig in the end from Nadal. Probably wasn't expecting Alcaraz to actually make the drop shot, which was perfectly played. Sometimes this taping can be so tight. It can be pretty off-putting. It's long. Eight points in a row for Rafael Nadal. What a dig, first of all, from Nadal. And all credit to Alcaraz. He stayed alert, stayed sharp, and was able to put the volley away. Confirmed. 20 of the last 22 points for Rafael Nadal. Very good start from Carlos Alcaraz. Oh, goodness me. What a time to find a forehand pass like that. That's so brave from Alcaraz. Nick Kyrgios fake there. Looked as though he was going for the drop shot. Wonderful defending, Alcaraz. Oh, my goodness me. He is back. None so far. And there is the break. Just crushing it again, Alcaraz. Holds to consolidate the break for Carlos Alcaraz. Nadal threw everything he had at him in that point. That's lovely from Nadal. Oh, found another one. One of the best games that Nadal has played so far today. Yeah. Carlos Alcaraz. Oh, it's cruel on Rafael Nadal. Nice bit of skill from Alcaraz just to pick that one up one-handed. Nadal stayed alert, though. And he gets one back, does Nadal. Alcaraz had one in the last game. And now it's Nadal's turn. It's on cue. It's brilliant from Carlos Alcaraz. Under pressure, finding his very best tennis. It's just magnificent from Alcaraz. Oh, he's got it. A to win it. And it is a massive day in the young career of Carlos Alcaraz. The apprentice finally beats the master. A defining day, you feel. After what happened on this court 12 months ago. Alcaraz gets his revenge. An extraordinary match that had it all, really. He came out all guns blazing in the opening set. There were then concerns whether he was even going to be able to continue in the second when he went over on the ankle. Not only did he continue, he found some of his best in the decider.