Carlos
Alcaraz and
Rafael Nadal are gearing up for an exciting partnership at the
Olympic Games Paris 2024 next week. The 21-year-old youngster joined Nadal as
part of the 'Channel Slam' winners, clinching titles at the
French Open and
Wimbledon consecutively.
The
22-times Grand Slam champion opted to skip the grass-swing and continue
training on clay with the Olympics as his primary focus. The event will be held
at Stade
Roland Garros, where both players have tasted championship success.
Alcaraz and Nadal ready to team up for Paris 2024
In an
interview with Mundo Deportivo, Alcaraz discussed his anticipation for the
Olympics, where he will be the third seed in the singles draw and team up with
Nadal in doubles: “I'm not nervous right now. I'm sure I will be when the time
comes closer," the world No. 3 said. "And yes, obviously, he has
already experienced this, he already knows what it's like to play in the
Olympics, to win gold in both singles and doubles. I'm new, I'm the rookie
here, so I have to shut up and listen to him."
Nadal
clinched the Olympic gold in 2008 on the hardcourts of the Rio Open after
defeating Fernando Gonzalez, just weeks after winning Roland Garros and
Wimbledon titles consecutively for the first time. He repeated the success in
2016, this time in doubles alongside Marc Lopez, securing the gold medal by
defeating Romanian pair Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau.
"He
has his own things, we have ours,"
Carlos Alcaraz said about Nadal.
"We talk a little bit, but when we're actually at the Games, we will talk
more about the doubles and, above all, how we're going to do it."
![copyright proshots 16459983](https://r.testifier.nl/Acbs8526SDKI/resizing_type:fit/watermark:Picture%3A%20Proshots/width:1280/plain/https://s3-newsifier.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/tennisuptodate.com/images/2022-05/copyright-proshots-16459983-6276426965938.jpg@webp)
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafa Nadal at 2022 Madrid Open
Rafa Nadal
recently expressed his desire to play alongside Alcaraz in his final Olympic
Games: "It would be good motivation, another incentive for me to be able
to close my Olympic cycle playing with Carlos."
“I’m too
shy” – Alcaraz on ‘Olympic selfies’
In his
interview with Mundo Deportivo, Alcaraz was asked if there is any athlete he
would like to take a selfie with during the Olympics, but the Spanish player
responded that he hasn't considered it yet: "I haven't thought about that.
I'm too shy in that sense. I don't know," he said. "I'll have to see
myself in the Olympic Village and see all the athletes and say, 'Oh, I'd like a
photo with that person.'"
"I
have great respect for all the athletes who have qualified and are representing
Spain at the Games," the 4-times Grand Slam champion said. "So
whoever wants to take a photo with me, I'd be more than happy to, but I think
Rafa will be the main target."