What are the options for Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in Olympic Games doubles preparation?

Rafael Nadal managed to get in shape at Roland Garros, but was unlucky to be played in the first round by Alexander Zverev and fell in the first round. He saw how playing on clay, his body suffered much less and was able to chain Barcelona, Madrid, Rome and Paris without re-injury but what about his Olympic Games step next up.

So, rightly, he has decided to get off the Wimbledon boat to put the focus on the Olympic Games in Paris, which will also be played on clay at Roland Garros. Rafa will play doubles with Carlos Alcaraz trying to find his third Olympic gold medal (he will also play the singles).

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Thus, Nadal's plan is to play some clay tournaments before the Parisian appointment and what he would like is to play a tournament with Carlitos before the Olympic event. The problem, as Angel Garcia commented on Cadena Cope, is to know if the Spaniard will be able to take time out of his very tight schedule to do so.

Obviously, Carlitos is going to play Wimbledon, where he will try to defend the title he won at the All-England Club last year and we don't know how he will finish the tournament physically. The final is on July 14th and the Games will start on July 27th.

TOURNAMENT OPTIONS.

Thus, between Wimbledon and the Games there are several European tournaments played on clay (we assume that they will not cross the pond to play in Atlanta) in which Rafa and Carlitos could prepare for the Olympic Games:

Nordea Open Bastad ATP 250 clay 15 july 2024 21 july 2024

Hamburg Open ATP 500 clay 15 July 2024 21 July 2024

Croatia Open Umag ATP 250 clay 22 July 2024 28 July 2024

Kitzbuhel Open ATP 250 clay 22 July 28 July 2024

It has already been mooted that the Hamburg European Open is the most likely option with Nadal looking to prepare there and coax Alcaraz into playing if his condition holds up.

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