In a big announcement made ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Spanish Tennis Federation revealed that reigning French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz will team up with his childhood hero, 22-time major winner Rafael Nadal, at the upcoming quadrennial event in France.
The 38-year-old tennis legend Nadal and the 21-year-old sensation Alcaraz are set to form a formidable duo that will strike fear into any opponents they face. Their star power and firepower are expected to give rivals sleepless nights leading up to the sporting extravaganza, which is slated to be hosted by France in July.
This announcement comes just three days after Alcaraz claimed his maiden Roland Garros title by defeating German Alexander Zverev in the championship match held in the city that will host the Olympics. This victory marked Alcaraz’s third Grand Slam title, following his triumphs at Wimbledon and the US Open. In doing so, Alcaraz surpassed Nadal to become the youngest player to win a major on all three surfaces: hard court, grass, and clay. Alcaraz is widely regarded as Nadal’s heir in Spanish tennis, frequently acknowledging Nadal’s influence on his game and citing him as an inspiration growing up.
Nadal already boasts Olympic gold medals in singles (2008) and doubles (2016 with Marc Lรณpez), adding to his extensive trophy collection, which includes titles from his 22 Grand Slam victories.
“Rafa and Carlos will be playing together in Paris,” announced Spain captain David Ferrer while revealing the squad. Nadal, who is in the final stretch of his illustrious career, has been battling injuries throughout the year and has experienced some surprising losses due to his advancing age and decreasing ability to recover from a wide array of injuries that have plagued him. Nadal, who redefined the sport for an entire generation, holds a record 14 titles at Roland Garros, where the Paris 2024 tennis event is set to take place. However, his recent performance at the clay-court event raised concerns about his advancing age, as he was ousted by Zverev in the opening round at Court Philippe-Chatrier a couple of weeks earlier.
The pairing of Nadal and Alcaraz at the Paris 2024 Olympics promises to be a highlight of the event, combining the experience and legacy of Nadal with the youthful energy and rising talent of Alcaraz.
