Netflix’s push into sports streaming is paying off for tennis fans unable to jet to Spain in recent years to follow the friendly rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal at the Madrid Open. Netflix Slam features youthful upstart Alcaraz facing off against veteran champion and fellow countryman Nadal in an exhibition match halfway around the world from their native Spain that could symbolize a changing of the guard.
Netflix Slam arrives after two seasons of Netflix’s reality show Break Point, and may determine the course of racket sports in its programming. If the exhibition match is a hit, future Slams could pit Novak Djokovic against Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner versus Break Point focus Nick Kyrgios or Iga Świątek against Jessica Pegula. It’s a safe bet to presume Netflix has innovations in store in terms of production and presentations.
The streaming service couldn’t have picked a better pair to launch the invitational with. Nadal, seeded No. 1 for Madrid in 2021, defeated Alcaraz on the clay court in the Madrid Open that year before being stopped in the quarterfinals. Alcaraz dazzled spectators with his win over Nadal in the 2022 quarterfinals, then became the youngest player ever to take the Madrid Open men’s single tennis title since Nadal in 2005.
He’d take the 2023 title as well, while Nadal had to withdraw before the tournament due to a hip injury. Nadal, with more than 1,000 career wins, was ranked No. 1 five times from 2008 to 2019. Alcaraz is currently ranked No. 2. Nadal is a 22-time Grand Slam men’s singles title champion. Alcaraz has two. Nadal was named Newcomer of the Year at the ATP Awards in 2003, Alcaraz in 2020.
The hip injury affected Nadal’s performance, and he dropped precipitously in the rankings last year. The Netflix Slam could be a comeback for him and a prelude to a final year as a pro. He’s signed on to October’s 6 Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia, as has Alvarez. As of now, between the Madrid Open and a 2022 match at Indian Wells, Nadal leads 2-1. Alcaraz could tie things up at the Slam.
Alcaraz, charismatic, photogenic and comfortable as a brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton, will be one of the dominant forces in the sport for the next decade. His rivalry with Sinner has been compared to Nadal’s with Roger Federer, and currently stands at 4-3 in Sinner’s favor.
Both Nadal and Alcaraz are products of Spain’s “pipeline of players,” as NPR has dubbed them, who grew up on the thousands of clay courts built in the 1970s. Alcaraz is a blur on clay with a wicked two-handed backhand and an uncanny ability to flick the ball right where his opponents can’t reach. Nadal counters with two decades of court experience. There may not be a physical passing of the torch, but there promises to be fiery playing at Netflix Slam.
Mandalay Bay, noon, March 3, starting at $485 plus tax and fee. axs.com
Click here for your free subscription to the weekly digital edition of Las Vegas Magazine, your guide to everything to do, hear, see and experience in Southern Nevada. In addition to the latest edition emailed to every week, you’ll find plenty of great, money-saving offers from some of the most exciting attractions, restaurants, properties and more! And Las Vegas Magazine is full of informative content such as restaurants to visit, cocktails to sip and attractions to enjoy.
