Rafael Nadal mentioned it might be thrilling to companion fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz on the Paris Olympics this 12 months and the 22-times singles grand slam champion hoped they’ll enter some doubles tournaments within the build-up to the Games.
Singles world No.3 Alcaraz mentioned beforehand he wish to play on the Olympics alongside his 37-year-old idol, who expects to convey the curtains down on his glittering however injury-plagued profession this 12 months.
At the Madrid Open the place the duo are competing this week, the 20-year-old admitted to being considerably nervous about initiating the dialogue however Nadal put him relaxed.
“Carlos doesn’t have to ask me anything, all things being well, we’ll play,” Nadal mentioned in the course of the IGUALES podcast. “It’s also hugely exciting for me. If I’m not mistaken, I’ve heard it is for him too.
“So it might be nice to play the odd match earlier than the Olympics to arrange ourselves and to get some rapport on court docket.”
While twice grand slam champion Alcaraz is set to make his Olympic debut in the July 26-August 11 Games, Nadal will be eyeing his third gold medal after triumphing in singles in the 2008 Beijing Games and doubles eight years later in Rio.
But Nadal has had a torrid time with injury in recent years, missing nearly all of 2023 with a hip issue that needed surgery.
He returned to competition in Brisbane in January but was out for another stretch due to a thigh issue, only coming back in Barcelona last week before casting doubts over his French Open participation next month.
The tennis competition at the Paris Games will take place on clay at Roland Garros, where Nadal has won 14 major titles.
“I believe if we’re each match sufficient, why not? We might have the prospect to type a fantastic workforce and aspire to nice issues,” Nadal mentioned of the partnership.
“It can be good for each of us. It would even be good for the Spanish workforce, so we’ll see how issues progress.”
Nadal, a five-times champion in Madrid, faces Australian tenth seed Alex de Minaur afterward Saturday.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
