“I have not dared to tell him”: Carlos Alcaraz reveals hesitation in talking to Rafael Nadal about playing doubles at Paris Olympics

Spain’s young tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz has revealed that he has not asked the former world number one Rafael Nadal about his desire to team up with him at the Olympics. The mega-event is set to be organised in the summer of this year in the French capital city of Paris. Nadal is often regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men’s tennis in the Open era, having won as many as 22 Grand Slam titles.

However, the 37-year-old has struggled with fitness concerns and it was because of this reason, he ended up missing three out of four Grand Slams back in 2023. Alcaraz, who himself is regarded as one of the most highly-rated players currently playing in the men’s singles category, is recently quoted in a report where he stated that it is his dream to play alongside his ‘idol’ but he is too scared to ask him about it.

"It would be a dream,” he said. “Not only to win a medal at singles or doubles, but just to live the experience of playing a doubles with your idol, would be a memory that I would keep with special affection. We have not talked about it. I have met him these days, in the last tournaments, and the truth is that I have not dared to tell him. I don't know, it's something that would make me very excited, it would be a dream and that's why it forces me. Having to tell him imposes on me.”