Tennis: what to remember from “Netflix Slam”, the exhibition between Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal?

Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal faced each other on Sunday evening (9:55 p.m. French time) in Las Vegas, during an exhibition preceding the first Masters 1000 of the season, in Indian Wells (March 6-17). A meeting organized and broadcast on Netflix, which aims to gain ground in the broadcasting of sporting events.

At the end of a match lasting just over two hours, the younger of the two Spaniards won after a very close super tie-break, 3-6, 4-6, 14-12 ).

The “Netflix touch” has had its effect. For its first tennis match broadcast live, the American streaming platform did not go by half measures. The images proposed were popular, the consultants were renowned (Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Andy Roddick, Patrick McEnroe), the public was spoiled and went into ecstasy at each end of a slightly hooked point - to the point of appearing a little fat.

Yes, the Netflix Slam was indeed an exhibition. And it was felt. Even if it is impossible to guess whether the course of the match was planned in this way, very big doubts remain after this “hoped-for” scenario for the show. This is also what challenged some fans on social networks: “it’s written to death,” several fans on X mocked.

This is the good news to take away from the evening: Rafael Nadal can still last two hours on a tennis court, without breaking. Even if the level displayed was very far from the standards of the two Spaniards, Rafael Nadal did not seem physically hampered, two months after his retirement from the Brisbane tournament after pain felt in his hip, which had prevented him from playing the Australian Open straight away. “The level of tennis is one thing, the ghost of injuries is another,” said the winner of 22 Grand Slam tournaments after the match. During the first set I played at a good level, even though I hadn't played for a long time. I felt a much greater improvement than I expected,” reassured the 37-year-old Spaniard after the meeting.

As qualifying for the Masters 1000 at Indian Wells begins this Monday, Rafael Nadal should, unless he abandons at the last minute, resume competition in California. And who knows, he could, in the second round, face one of the main seeds of the tournament, since he will play with his protected ranking.

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