Rafael Nadal speaks at a press conference

Rafael Nadal has revealed why his Spanish compatriot Carlos Alcaraz is his favourite to win the 2025 Madrid Open title.

Alcaraz is a two-time Madrid champion, having won the Masters 1000 tournament in 2022 and 2023.

The 21-year-old was struggling with an arm injury when he played in Madrid last year and lost in the quarter-finals to eventual winner Andrey Rublev.

The world No 3 arrives in the Spanish capital after an excellent start to the clay-court season, although there is some concern over his physical condition.

After winning the Monte Carlo Masters, Alcaraz reached the final at the Barcelona Open, where his nine-match winning streak was ended by Holger Rune.

The Spaniard sustained an abductor injury early in the second set of the 6-7(6), 2-6 loss to his Danish rival.

Alcaraz and Nadal both attended the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony in Madrid on the eve of the tournament.

During the ceremony, Nadal backed Alcaraz when asked to name his favourite to win the Madrid Open.

“Well, in the end, if Carlos Alcaraz is in good shape, I think he is always the favourite,” the 22-time major champion said.

Nadal won a record five titles at the Madrid Open, with four on clay and one on indoor hard-court in 2005 before the event switched surfaces in 2009.

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Following the Barcelona final, Alcaraz shed light on his injury and revealed he did not expect it to derail his Madrid campaign.

“There were a couple of rallies that made me feel a little sore in my abductor muscle, my right psoas: when you feel a little discomfort, the alarm bells go off a bit and it’s hard to stay focused on the game,” the four-time Grand Slam winner said in his press conference.

“You worry about how your physique, your health, is going to be, and it was hard for me to continue and maintain that level. From what I’m noticing and feeling now, I think it’s going to be two days of rest, and even if I hadn’t hurt myself, I would have had them anyway.

“We’re going to talk to my medical team, we’re going to run tests, but I believe and trust that it won’t harm me for Madrid.”

Alcaraz will face either Zizou Bergs or Yoshihito Nishioka in his opening match in Madrid.

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