Rafael Nadal congratulates academy star Martin Landaluce on maiden ATP Challenger title; Carlos Alcaraz joins in celebrating 18-year-old compatriot

Rafael Nadal (L) Carlos Alcaraz (R) Martin Landaluce (inset). (Source: GETTY) — Rafael Nadal (L), Carlos Alcaraz, Martin Landaluce (inset) [Images: Getty]

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz have congratulated Martin Landaluce on his first ATP Challenger Tour title. 18-year-old Landaluce, with his ATP Challenger 125 Olbia title, is the youngest Spaniard to win a Challenger title since Alcaraz.

Landaluce defeated three seeded players on his way to the title. He defeated third-seeded Frenchman Harold Mayot in the first round, seventh seed Matteo Gigante in the semifinals, and second seed Mattia Bellucci in the final in Olbia, Portugal.

The young Spaniard has trained at Nadal’s academy in Mallorca. The Spanish tennis icon celebrated the youngster’s biggest title by posting about it on his Instagram story and congratulating him. Alcaraz also posted about Landaluce’s achievement on his Instagram story to congratulate him.

Rafael Nadal's (L) and Carlos Alcaraz's Instagram story congratulating Martin Landaluce (@rafaelnadal & @carlitosalcarazz) — Rafael Nadal’s (L) and Carlos Alcaraz’s Instagram story congratulating Martin Landaluce (@rafaelnadal & @carlitosalcarazz)

Landaluce won the 2022 US Open boys’ singles title while Alcaraz won the men’s singles title that year, their first Grand Slam titles. During an interview with ATP Tour in September, the youngster opened up about his conversation as a 16-year-old with a 19-year-old Alcaraz:

“I was asking him, ‘How do you manage to be with one million (followers), or all of your country above you, watching you, saying, ‘You have to be this, or you have to be this number?” It’s very difficult. He was very nice because he managed that very naturally. That’s special and I try to be like him in that, because it’s very important.”

Landaluce recalled Alcaraz’s advice:

“‘Try to be part of Instagram, social media, only with your family and that will get rid of [a lot of] expectation.’”

Martin Landaluce has practiced with both Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz

King Felipe VI of Spain (R) receives the Spanish tennis player winners at the US Open 2022: (L-R) Martin De La Puente Riobo, Martin Landaluce Lacambra, and Carlos Alcaraz (Image: Getty)

In an interview with the ATP over a year ago, then-17 Martin Landaluce was asked about his relationship with compatriots Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.

“I’ve practiced with both many times. They’re such good persons, on and off the court and I really take a lot of things from them,” Landaluce said.

In a more recent interview with the ATP, he further discussed the Spaniards and said:

“That’s one of the best things I’ve experienced in my career. The two big references for me. Rafa, all of my life, watching him, trying to be like him. And now Carlos. They are very good people. I love playing with them. I try as much as I can to practise with them, to ask them questions, it’s a very good experience.”

At 18 years and 10 months, Landaluce has won his first Challenger title. Meanwhile, Alcaraz won his first Challenger title in Città di Trieste, Italy, at the age of 17 years and three months, and Nadal won his first Challenger title at the Barletta Open in Italy at the age of 16 years and 10 months.