 "Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal will represent Spain in the tennis men's doubles event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. AFP")
Rafael Nadal’s shock first-round exit at the recently-concluded French Open wasn’t the final appearance of his glittering career after all, with the 14-time Roland Garros champion set to represent Spain in the upcoming Paris Olympics.
What’s more, the 22-time Grand Slam winner is set to pair up with Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning French Open champion who is seen by many as his successor.
Nadal had hinted at his participation in the Paris Olympics following his defeat against 2024 French Open runner-up Alexander Zverev in the opening round.
“My main goal now is to play Olympics. That’s going to be here. So I need to prepare myself the proper way to try to arrive here healthy and well prepared, and then let’s see,” Nadal said after his stunning defeat on 27 May.
Nadal and Alcaraz will also be playing the singles events besides representing Spain in men’s doubles. The pair will enter the tennis event in the upcoming summer Olympics as solid favourites given the matches will be taking place at Roland Garros.
Nadal will be hoping to add to his two Olympic gold medals — in singles in Beijing 2008 and in doubles in Rio 2016 along with Marc Lopez. Alcaraz, on the other hand, will be making his debut at the summer Olympics.