Another battle between Nadal’s devoted fans is about to begin.

Last November, following his participation in the Davis Cup team event, the King of Clay and Spain’s warrior Nadal declared his retirement. Prior to this year’s French Open, the organizers held an elaborate retirement ceremony for Nadal and permanently placed Rafael Nadal’s nameplate at the French Open’s Philippe-Chatrier main court, commemorating his historic 14 titles at Roland Garros.

Although Nadal has retired, his remarkable achievements and warrior spirit will forever be remembered in the tennis world. With 22 Grand Slam titles, 36 Masters championships, and two Olympic gold medals (singles and doubles), Nadal’s career stands as a monumental legacy. His relentless fighting spirit and never-give-up attitude will continue to inspire generations of tennis players to overcome challenges and achieve new heights.

Moreover, Nadal’s admirers and fans who look up to him as an idol continue to compete on the ATP Tour, carrying forward his warrior spirit. Formerly, there was the strongest 1.70m player from Argentina, the “short tiger” Schwartzman, now retired; currently, there are left-handed British player Norrie, American rising star Korda Jr., Italian lefty Berrettini, and Spain’s all-around warrior Alcaraz.

What is especially exciting is that these Nadal fans frequently face each other in intense ATP Tour matches, jointly delivering thrilling contests that pay tribute to their idol Nadal. In the third round of this year’s Wimbledon, two Nadal followers, both left-handers, Norrie and Berrettini, clashed, with elder brother Norrie comfortably winning in three sets; in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, Norrie met another Nadal fan, Alcaraz, but lost in three sets to the defending champion.

In the first round of the 2025 US Open, two Nadal fans faced off again, with Norrie leading by two sets before Korda retired due to injury. In the second round of the 2025 US Open, another showdown between Nadal fans is set to take place: Alcaraz versus Berrettini.

Born in June 2001, Berrettini is two years older than Alcaraz, but their career records differ greatly, almost incomparable. Like his idol Nadal, Berrettini plays left-handed with a two-handed backhand. Since turning professional in 2021, Berrettini struggled mainly in ITF challengers and ATP qualifying rounds until the 2024 season. He occasionally made main draws but had few wins. His victory in the first round of the 2024 US Open remains his only Grand Slam win to date. Similarly, his first-round win at the 2024 Shanghai Masters is his sole Masters-level victory so far.

Entering the 2025 season, Berrettini finally made a breakthrough. At the ATP 500 Rotterdam event, he won three consecutive matches to reach his first ATP Tour semifinal. Impressively, his victims included Russian Tsar Medvedev and Greek pirate Tsitsipas, which was truly encouraging. At Wimbledon’s second round, Berrettini continued his success by defeating Czech star Lehecka in three sets, reaching the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.

Tomorrow at 7 a.m., two Nadal fans, Alcaraz and Berrettini, will face off in the second round of the 2025 US Open, marking their first professional meeting. Five years ago, in a challenger event, Alcaraz defeated Berrettini in straight sets. Tomorrow morning, five years later, what kind of answer will they deliver to honor their idol Nadal?

(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Qicai Doufen)