The 14-time French Open champion, Nadal, previously announced that 2024 would mark his final year in professional tennis, with a focus on the Paris Olympics. Rafael Nadal is contemplating partnering with fellow Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz in the doubles event at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Nadal already has a gold-plated history in the Olympics. He secured gold in both singles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics alongside Spanish veteran Marc Lopez.
Alcaraz and Nadal have never teamed up as a doubles pair before. The tennis event at the 2024 Paris Olympics is scheduled in the last week of July at Roland Garros, the iconic venue of the French Open, just one month after the conclusion of the Grand Slam event.
In an interview with AS, Nadal expressed his interest in teaming up with Carlos, citing it as a motivating factor. Nadal said, “Regarding the fact of playing doubles with Carlos, I have not had the slightest conversation with him in that regard. But I would also like [it], and it would be a good motivation.”
🇪🇸👀 Rafael Nadal is keen to play doubles with Carlos Alcaraz at the 2024 Paris Olympics, held at Roland Garros:
“To play doubles with him at the 2024 Olympics? I would like to do so and it would be a good motivation, another incentive, for me to be able to close my Olympic… pic.twitter.com/V7mKlpiqG8
— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) September 20, 2023
He continued, “It is another incentive for me to be able to close my Olympic cycle playing with Carlos, with everything he is achieving, with the young people, and with the great future he has ahead of him.”
Coincidentally Alcaraz shares this Olympic aspiration too and hopes to make special memories, representing Spain alongside his idol, Rafael Nadal, before he retires. As per him, it would be a special memory that will last forever.
Rafael Nadal lavishes praise on Alcaraz, naming Djokovic as his only competition
The tennis community continues to admire Carlos Alcaraz, despite his recent US Open loss at the semi-final stage. Tennis pundits have applauded his exceptional skills and maturity at such a young age. Rafael Nadal, too, has expressed his deep admiration for the young Spaniard.
Nadal remarked about the 20-year-old Alcaraz, “He held the world #1 ranking until recently. Despite his youth, at present, the only competitor I see for him is Djokovic. He stands a level above the rest.”
Rafa Nadal says the only rival he sees for Carlos Alcaraz is Novak Djokovic:
“He has been the world #1 until recently. Although he is very young, right now, practically, the only rival I see for him is Djokovic. He is one step above the others. My feeling from outside the… pic.twitter.com/mDa6MlZKoA
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 20, 2023
Nadal shared his perspective on Alcaraz’s game, stating, “My feeling from outside the circuit is that when he plays, the games normally depend on him 90% of the days. I’m not surprised by what happened at Wimbledon.”
Nadal believes that among the players on tour the one who can truly challenge Alcaraz is Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz and Djokovic have a current head-to-head record of 2-2, that includes two clashes in Grand Slams. While Djokovic emerged victorious in their French Open encounter, Alcaraz defeated him in the Wimbledon finals this year.