MADRID – Rafael Nadal said it would be exciting to partner fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz at the Paris Olympics and the 22-time Grand Slam champion hoped they can enter some doubles tournaments in the build-up to the Games.
World No. 3 Alcaraz previously said he would like to play at the Olympics alongside his 37-year-old idol, who expects to bring the curtains down on his glittering but injury-plagued career after this season.
At the Madrid Open where the duo are competing this week, the 20-year-old admitted to being somewhat nervous about initiating the discussion but Nadal put him at ease.
“Carlos doesn’t have to ask me anything, all things being well, we’ll play,” he told Iguales, the Madrid Open’s official podcast.
“It’s also hugely exciting for me. If I’m not mistaken, I’ve heard it is for him too. So it would be great to play the odd tournament before the Olympics to prepare ourselves and to get some rapport on court.”
The tennis competition in Paris will take place on clay at Roland Garros, where Nadal has won 14 French Open men’s singles titles.
“I think if we’re both fit enough, why not? We could have the chance to form a great team and aspire to great things,” he added.
“It would be good for both of us. It would also be good for the Spanish team, so we’ll see how things progress.”
While two-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz is set to make his Olympic debut at the July 26-Aug 11 Games, Nadal will be eyeing his third gold medal after triumphing in singles in the 2008 Beijing Games and doubles in Rio 2016 with Marc Lopez.
But being “fit enough” is the key, as Nadal has had a torrid time with injury in recent years, missing nearly all of 2023 with a hip issue that needed surgery and is still not back to full fitness.
He returned to competition in Brisbane in January but was out for another stretch due to a thigh issue, only coming back in Barcelona – losing to Australian Alex de Minaur in the second round on April 17 – before casting doubts over his French Open participation in May.
On April 27, the Spaniard took revenge on de Minaur in Madrid, winning their rematch 7-6 (8-6), 6-3. He will play Argentina’s Pedro Cachin in the third round.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, admitted that it is impossible to “imagine tennis without Rafa”.
“I don’t want to imagine it yet. Like any Rafa or tennis fan, no one wants to imagine the tour without Rafa,” he said.
“Personally, I want to make the most of Rafa, every time he steps on the court, whenever he can play. I know that’s what he wants, that’s what he craves, and that he works for it day in, day out to feel competitive... Whenever I can, I will be there to enjoy his tennis as much as possible.”
In the Madrid Open women’s draw, world No. 1 Iga Swiatek progressed to the last 16 after defeating Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-1 on April 27. The victory improved Swiatek’s season record to 26-4. REUTERS, AFP
