From a tender age, Carlos Alcaraz openly acknowledged the deep impact of Rafael Nadal’s illustrious career on his tennis aspirations. Recently, a heartening video from seven years ago resurfaced, showing a 13-year-old Alcaraz expressing his sincere admiration for Nadal and contemplating his glorious path to tennis greatness, inspired by his tennis idol and fellow compatriot.
Participating in the U-14 division in Spain at the age of 13, Alcaraz candidly revealed his desire to follow in Nadal’s footsteps. In an interview during the tournament, he articulated his dreams, saying, “I want to be top 10 in the world. I want to be like Rafa Nadal because he trains very hard, sacrifices himself & puts in a lot of effort.”
13 year old Carlos Alcaraz speaking about his idol, Rafa Nadal:
“I want to be top 10 in the world. I want to be like Rafa Nadal because he trains very hard, sacrifices himself & puts in a lot of effort.” ❤️
(via @calvonbauer)
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) December 4, 2023
As this heartfelt video gained attention, fans cherished the deep connection between the two Spanish superstars, with one aptly noting, “GOATS recognize GOATS.” Now, at just 20 years old, Alcaraz has swiftly become the talk of tennis pundits, considered the future GOAT of the new generation post-Big 3 era.
Goats recognise goats
— jugador 🔥 (@mu5a1) December 4, 2023
Notably, he has far surpassed the ambitious goals he set during his formative years, achieving the remarkable feat of becoming the youngest world No. 1 in the history of the sport at just 19 years and 4 months.
Carlos Alcaraz’s extraordinary journey illustrates how his childhood wish to emulate Rafael Nadal has evolved into a reality that not only mirrors but surpasses his dreams, making him one of the biggest stars in the world of tennis.
Can Carlos Alcaraz and Rafa form their “dream” doubles team for the 2024 Paris Olympics?
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal have expressed their desire to team up for a “dream” doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, but securing a spot will depend on obtaining wild cards at the discretion of the Olympic Committee.
As Spain is hosting the Davis Cup Finals and has already qualified by this virtue, neither player can participate in the group stage competition. A prerequisite to participating in the Olympics is to compete in the Davis Cup event two calendar years before the Games. Nadal has not played in the Davis Cup since 2019, and Alcaraz’s last appearance was only in 2022.
🇪🇸👀 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
However, reports suggest that they can appeal to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) by explaining their inability to play in the Davis Cup due to valid reasons. There is a potential lifeline in the ITF’s rulebook, particularly for former Grand Slam title winners.
The rules permit one spot in each draw for a player who has previously secured an Olympic gold medal or a Grand Slam title but hasn’t directly qualified. Given that both Alcaraz and Nadal are multiple Grand Slam champions, Nadal additionally holds two Olympic gold medals.
It is to be seen whether the ITF and the Olympic committee will grant the exclusive wild card to the Spanish duo. It will allow Nadal and Alcaraz to fulfill their dream of forming a formidable doubles team at the Olympics.