🇪🇸 Spain have received a wild card from the ITF for the Olympics to qualify directly for the group stage. Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz can both qualify for the Olympics if they send a formal letter to the ITF explaining the reason for their Davis Cup absence. See you in 2024
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal's Olympic Games dream likely to be realised after ITF wildcard
Tennis NewsMonday, 27 November 2023 at 10:17
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz currently at this time look unlikely to play the Olympic Games, until a wildcard saw them get a shot in the arm at that ambition as reported on Sunday by Marca.
The Spanish publication said that the ITF has given a wildcard to the Spanish Davis Cup team, along with Great Britain to participate in the group stages of the tournament next year. This decision in turn helps Alcaraz and Nadal out and attempt to gain entry to the Olympics.
In their current state, they cannot play as they have not played for their country in consecutive years. But there is a caveat to this.
Letter needed for exemption
Both Nadal and Alcaraz will have to submit a letter to the ITF through the RTEF (Royal Spanish Tennis Federation) to explain why they couldn't represent their country at the Davis Cup. Nadal has an easier time than Alcaraz doing so.
The Spanish legend has of course been out 98% of the season injured and has to submit a medical report as his excuse detailing his long injury lay-off. While Alcaraz could say that he was due to represent Spain in the play-offs, which was cancelled due to said wildcard.
This in particular also helps Nadal who due to ranking was also unlikely to get in until this wildcard with him outside the top 600 and outside of the window to qualify barring winning multiple titles on his return. It is seen by many as not only a chance for the Spanish dream team to come together to attempt to win the doubles but also as a potential fairytale end for Nadal before the US Open on his favorite surface and courts of Roland Garros.
Certainly, there is work to do, but the decision from the ITF will help out the duo who will be big selling factors for the tournament to be involved. As well as in the case of Andy Murray for Great Britain who has previously medalled and will likely play his final Olympic Games.
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