Baby Rafa giving Rafa Nadal a big hug ahead of his doubles match with Carlos Alcaraz. Dad’s biggest supporter. 🥹 x.com/tnnsclips/stat…
Rafael Nadal was pleased that he and Carlos Alcaraz managed to continue their run as the self styled 'Nadalcaraz' into the Quarter-Finals of the Olympic Games. But one aspect of the game irked the legendary Spaniard.
Nadal who will team up again with Alcaraz to face Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram, the fourth seeds from the USA will face their biggest test yet. Two doubles specialists who won't care about the buzz surrounding their opponents.
But the match was more prolonged than perhaps expected due to a super tie-break. A regular third set was not employed as Nadal and Alcaraz were forced to play first to 10. A rule that was slammed by Nadal in his post match interview. He said he understands its use on the tour but not an event like this.
Nadal has not been best pleased for most of the week with the Spaniard also taking aim at scheduling. Given that he is a huge name, he has been given late night prime time slots but has not received these well when he has had to return early the following day.
"We played much better than the first day. In general terms, I think we played more in harmony and more solidly throughout and I think we were better than our rivals. The thing is that in doubles everything gets complicated very quickly and that was seen in the second set, where being better than them and having more opportunities than the rest, you get to the tiebreak and you lose them," Nadal said after the match.
"On a personal level, I think it is totally unnecessary to play the Olympics with a super tie break. In a Tour tournament I think it is understandable because it allows singles players to also compete in doubles, but the Games are every four years and they are the most important doubles matches of our lives and this format is a bit of a lottery," Nadal continued.
"The atmosphere has been impressive and I'm enjoying every match I play here, with a level of affection and support that's hard to imagine. We're enjoying it together and it's a beautiful thing because we know it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Nadal concluded.
claps 0visitors 270
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Renee Stubbs, stop the race baiting, you snow flake. Nothing badosa said was racist, and Paula, don't knee-jerk apologize for nothing.tennistim23-12-2024
- Rybakina is back!!
mandoist21-12-2024 - She sems to have a turbulent relationship with The Truth. Not even smartenough to make an excuse like "I severely twisted my ankle yesterday" -- then be seen shopping in some city next day while "recuperating"!mandoist21-12-2024
- Why do you even publish this TwatCaster's PATHETIC stunt for attention? There's plenty of reasons why imbeciles like him are 'talking' and people like Iga Swiatek are 'walking the walk'. Tennisuptodate should be above this tripe.mandoist16-12-2024
- If and when Political Correctness and gullible hearts over-rule BIOLOGY, the Human world begins its already seeming decline.mandoist15-12-2024
- The new generation has arrived and these guys need to do it with the left overs.
AceOfBase13-12-2024 - Every young, inexperiend CEO has "better" ideas (and friends to hire).mandoist12-12-2024
- What a load of nonsense. Emotional stress definitely didn’t cause her wrist or ankle injuries.Lyca10-12-2024
- Taylor Fritz 🎾 – the surprising third for many. 🎄 A great Christmas tree quiz question! 🎅✨MrAndreeva10-12-2024
- Simona Halep taking the axe out 🪓😮💨MrAndreeva08-12-2024
