In a thrilling display of skill and teamwork, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz showed the world what they are made of at the Paris Olympics. With cries of “Si!” and “Vamos!” echoing through the stadium, the duo slapped palms and celebrated their victory over Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands.
Despite Nadal’s recent singles loss to rival Novak Djokovic, the Spanish pair proved unstoppable in the doubles match, winning 6-4, 6-7 (2), 10-2 in a nail-biting tiebreaker. Sporting polo shirts in shades of red, Nadal and Alcaraz appeared to have been playing together for years, not in their first event as a team.
The focus of the tennis world has been firmly on Nadal, with his 22 Grand Slam titles and two gold medals, and rising star Alcaraz, who has already secured four major trophies. The pair, with Nadal’s wife and son cheering from the stands, will now face the fourth-seeded American team of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in the quarterfinals.
In a scorching morning session before the match, fans packed into Court 3 to watch Nadal and Alcaraz in a practice session. The excitement was palpable as supporters waited in long lines, eager to catch a glimpse of the tennis legends in action.
“It was a great match for us. It’s a pleasure to play with Rafa. It has been an incredible experience,” said Alcaraz after the win.
Nadal echoed his partner’s sentiments, stating, “It’s a pleasure for me, too. It’s nice to have Carlos on my side.”
With their eyes set on Olympic glory, Nadal and Alcaraz are poised to continue their impressive run and showcase their skills on the world stage.
