Rory McIlroy reveals support for Rafael Nadal’s Masters, rates Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner rivalry | ATP Tour
Court Affairs
McIlroy reveals Nadal’s Masters support, compares Alcaraz vs. Sinner
From voice notes at Augusta to the future of tennis, McIlroy bridges two sporting worlds
May 01, 2026
Andrew Redington / Angel Martinez / Getty Images
Rory McIlroy looks at the support he received from Rafael Nadal during the Masters.
Written by Jerome Coombe
Rory McIlroy’s successful defense of his Masters title last month came with an unexpected boost, with the Northern Irishman revealing he had the backing of 22-time major champion Rafael Nadal.
The former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, Nadal was at Augusta National during the tournament, showing his support in person. Speaking last week at the Laureus Awards, McIlroy shared how much Nadal’s presence – and his thoughtful gestures – meant to the week.
“I saw Rafa get off the course a lot at Augusta,” McIlroy said. “He would leave me little notes at the end of the day. It’s really nice when you have one sports legend that makes you happy like that. Knowing what it’s like to be in that situation is great.”
“I think there are a lot of similarities between golf and tennis. In each sport, you go out there on your own and you have to find yourself.”
Away from golf, McIlroy has long been an avid tennis fan, regularly attending major events, including the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami in March. His rise in golf has coincided with Nadal’s reign on the ATP Tour, and with the Spaniard retiring in 2024, McIlroy, like many fans, wondered who would take over at the top of the sport.
In recent years, he’s found that answer in the budding rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, which has become one of the sport’s fiercest rivalries, with Alcaraz currently leading their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 10-7.
“We were all wondering ‘Who’s next?’, and then you have these two guys in Carlos and Jannik,” McIlroy said. “What makes this tournament so important are the different styles. Carlos plays his heart on his sleeve and Jannik is a complete robot – he doesn’t make a mistake.
“As a tennis fan, it makes me very excited for the next few years, to be able to watch them fight.”
McIlroy also had the chance to meet Alcaraz last year at the US Open, where the Spaniard memorably acknowledged his presence by mimicking a golf swing after his first-round win. Although Alcaraz is an avid golfer, the two have yet to share a round together.
“Not yet,” McIlroy said. “I met him at the US Open last year, and he really likes his golf,” McIlroy said. “He plays any day he doesn’t work, but hopefully one day we’ll get a round.”
