Rafael Nadal has expressed his confidence in Carlos Alcaraz’s abilities as they prepare for their Olympic partnership in Paris 2024. The excitement around their collaboration grew when they both confirmed their interest earlier in the season, and it became official with the announcement of the Spanish team last month.
Carlos Alcaraz heads to Paris after a successful season, including a Wimbledon victory and a Roland Garros triumph. In contrast, Nadal chose to skip the grass-court season to focus on the Olympics, hosted at the venue where he won 14 French Open titles. Despite a challenging week at the Swedish Open in Bastad, where he reached his 131st career final but lost to Nuno Borges, Nadal remains determined to improve his performance.
In an interview with Punto de Break, the 38-year-old acknowledged the need to work hard but expressed full confidence in Alcaraz, citing the latter’s recent successes and high confidence levels. Nadal’s enthusiasm for representing Spain in the Olympics is evident, as he views it as the most significant event in sports. He aims to bring his best tennis to both singles and doubles, reflecting on his performance in Bastad and preparing rigorously for the Games.
Nadal and Alcaraz are at different stages of their Olympic journeys. Alcaraz is making his debut, while Nadal is competing for the fourth time, two decades after his first appearance in Athens. Nadal’s Olympic history includes a doubles competition in Athens with his now-coach Carlos Moya, a singles gold medal in Beijing 2008, and a doubles gold with Marc Lopez in Rio 2016. Despite skipping London 2012 and finishing fourth in singles in Rio, Nadal has cemented his legacy with multiple Olympic titles.
Recently, the pair have been seen in the Olympic Village in Paris, mingling with fellow Team Spain members who have shared their excitement on social media. Both players will kick off their singles campaigns over the weekend, with the men’s doubles also starting around the same time.
In summary, Nadal is confident in Alcaraz’s abilities as they join forces for the Olympics, bringing together a seasoned champion and a rising star. Their preparation and mutual support highlight their determination to excel in Paris 2024, aiming to add to Spain’s rich history in Olympic tennis.
