(Reuters) – Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz tempered expectations for Spain’s dream team on Wednesday as they looked ahead to playing together in the Paris Olympics.
Alcazar, winner of this year’s French Open and Wimbledon, and 22-Grand Slam winner Nadal who has struggled with injuries for two years, have been the main focus of the Olympic tennis competition starting on Saturday and running to Aug. 4.
“I understand a little bit the morbid illusion of seeing us play together but let’s not think that this translates into success, I think it’s a mistake. Carlos hasn’t played many doubles and I haven’t played many doubles or many singles lately,” the 38-year-old Nadal told reporters.
“We are going to do our best to try, at least, to leave with the peace of mind of having done everything possible to get where we can get (but) obviously, we have not been able to prepare together for a tournament like this, where there are other doubles teams that have been preparing,” he added.
The former world number one, who expects to retire at the end of this year after missing almost all of 2023 with a hip problem, conceded that adapting their game in a different competition would be difficult.
“Things happen much faster, the reflexes have to be ready and the movements are not automatic when one has not played for a long time, there are doubles movements that are completely different from the individual ones,” the Spaniard said.
Alcaraz, 21, was confident that playing on the red clay where he won just weeks ago would be a plus.
“I have not had the opportunity to play many doubles tournaments, but obviously having the illusion of returning to Roland Garros, to these courts that I have always enjoyed playing… makes it easier,” he said.
“We also have days of training, individually and doubles to adapt as best as possible again, for my part to return to clay and be able to gain confidence to start the tournament in the best possible way,” he added.
Nadal, who won an Olympic singles gold medal in 2008 and the doubles gold in 2016, suggested that the Games were even more special than Grand Slams.
“Unfortunately I have missed Tokyo and London due to injury and it is something that has hurt me more than missing Grand Slams,” he said.
“In the end they are unique experiences, of which there are few in the world, in one’s career. The others are very important tournaments for us, but in the end we experience them every year, and well, I value being here very much.”
Source: Reuters
We know all the issues Rafa, but no doubles team is guaranteed success and there are many pairings created just for the Olympics. That said, we are optimistic for the Nadal/Alcaraz duo. Vamos!!
Can anyone tell me why rafael nadal opted to not play mixed doubles in paris olympics and how are the seeds decided for the mixed doubles qualification. Would rafa have been eligible to play mixed doubles?
Even if Rafa wanted to play, he wouldn’t be able to because his ranking is very low. You need to have a good ranking in either singles or doubles to be able to play mixed doubles at the Olympics.
Rafa will be carrying the doubles team of Nadalcaraz or Alcadal😆. Rafa has all the experience, while alcaraz is just tagging along.
I hope Rafa wins gold in singles at the Paris Olympics and proves all the naysayers wrong. Only two years ago, Rafa would have been the prohibitive favorite to win gold in Paris at Roland Garros. But the injuries creeped in at Australia and he has been making a slow recovery. Sure would love to see Rafa play his best tennis in Paris Olympics!
Yeah if Rafa keeps playing tennis, I hope he never wants to play in Australia again. Too much bad luck there. But on the bright side he did win two unforgettable Aussie opens! 🥰🏆🏆
Can’t wait to see the draws tomorrow.
One thing is for sure: Rafa will not be in the same draw as Alcaraz.
Rafa landing in medvedev’s quarter would be the best case scenario.
Rafa will go for the gold. ☀️🔥💥🎾🏅🥇🎉🎊🎁
Haha, I meant Rafa will not be in the same quarter as Alcaraz.
With sinner withdrawing, the top seeds are Djokovic, Alcaraz, Zverev, medvedev. Rafa can land in the quarter of medvedev or the other 2, but not Alcaraz because of Olympic rules.
I wanted rafa to compete in mixed doubles and try to complete the olympic set of winning singles, doubles and mixed doubles. I wonder why he didnt choose to go for mixed that also needs lesser matches to play (only 4).
Rafa is being realistic in the light of having played long and strenuous matches against players who not long ago would have been no match for him. In the Olympics the doubles will be another ballgame so he has good reason to lower our expectations
If any two players can adapt to playing doubles, surely it would be these two! A dream matchup at Roland Garros👏💪🤛🫶🍀🎾❤️
Does Carlos play singles too? I hope he do because it is a chance of a lifetime. Best of luck to Rafa and Carlos.
Of course he plays singles. And some of his fans are affraid that he will lose focus by playing doubles with Rafa and lose chance of winning medal in singles because of that.
Rafa is very realistic, but we all know he will fight till the end and that’s why I wanna believe Nadalcaraz can go far in the tournament.