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.
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- FYI: The term 'snub' is a much overused verb by writers of sensationalist rags. [SNUB: rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully]. That is not the definition of what is going on with frequent withdrawals from tournaments.
mandoist16-09-2024 - No offence, Mr. Lloyd, but where have you been the past two years?? How long have you been a tennis fan? This 'article' may be informative for newbies or fair-weather tennis observers but the majority of fans know the root of the multiple issues within WTA. The #1 issue being the subject of health & well-being which has been (or has attempted to be) addressed with the WTA Elitist council members last season. WTA was extremely dismissive of players' concerns and opposed to such a meeting. Eventually giving-in due to publicity and allowed selective players only -- no rep's, no medical personnel, and no team members. The meeting was a farce as WTA soon after that released an even more hectic schedule... with mandatory tourneys! Guess they weren't taking notes?? BTW: There is a lot missing from this piece concerning "withdrawals". No writer has yet taken the jump to get behind the scenes and dig at the problems -- obvious organizational problems. IMO, the top two issues are WTA's lack of proper attention to health & well-being of its Money-Makers; and Financial Greed. Tip to Mr. Lloyd: there is no "snubbing" when these players withdraw. These women have to take such measures as withdrawing from a tourney, and occasional time-off from the circuit, to protect themselves -- because WTA refuses to take any measures at all (although not allowing matches until sunrise is a start). Surely you can do better than point fingers at players. The finger-pointing should be directed entirely at WTA (and ATP). Be a true journalist, Mr. Lloyd, and research them!!mandoist16-09-2024
- Uh-oh.... Now Raducanu is being forced to compete! Let's see who withdraws next... I wonder??mandoist15-09-2024
- And this is such a shock to WTA?? How many times are they (WTA & ATP) going to keep stepping in their own s*** ???mandoist15-09-2024
- They can go down together!mandoist15-09-2024
