Rafael Nadal targeting Paris Olympics but can he qualify?

After the heartbreaking first round exit on Monday, Rafael Nadal's record-breaking French Open career came to its likely end when the 14-time champion slumped to a straight sets defeat against Alexander Zverev. He later revealed his journey to the Paris Olympics in July will not take a detour to Wimbledon.

Nadal, who turns 38 on June 3, went down 3-6, 6-7 (5), 3-6 in the first round to Zverev, suffering only his fourth loss in 116 matches at Roland Garros since his 2005 title-winning debut.

It was the first time he had been defeated in the first round at the French Open and again prompted questions over his long-term future.

Nadal may not return for the 2025 French Open but he still plans to play the Olympics at Roland Garros in July.

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Nadal, a gold medallist in singles and doubles at 2008 and 2016 Olympics in Beijing and Rio de Janeiro respectively, told reporters: “That’s my main goal now.

“I need to prepare myself the proper way to try to arrive healthy and well-prepared.”

What is the qualification criteria for the Olympics?

Unlike many other sports which run qualifiers and trials for the Olympics, tennis selects its contenders based on the rankings. The ATP and WTA rankings on 10 June, day after the French Open ends, will be used to determine direct acceptances into the 2024 Paris Olympics.

But that isn’t alone to decide the criteria. In order to be eligible to compete in the Olympics, players have to:

- be in good standing with their National Association and the International Tennis Federation (ITF)
- Should have represented their country in the team events - Davis Cup (for men) or Billie Jean King Cup (for women)
- Aged 14 or over for men, 15 or over for women

Each country can nominate a maximum of 12 players - six men and six women. The singles event at the Olympics features 64 players with a maximum of four athletes per country.

There are 56 direct acceptances into the singles draw based on the rankings on the cutoff date of 10 June. This means the 56 highest ranked ATP and WTA players, keeping in mind the maximum of four players per nation limitation, will be offered a place.

Beyond this, there are six final qualification places. It is handed out to continental champions, gold medallists from previous Olympics, Grand Slam champions and for the hosts (if needed).

Nadal’s case, however, falls under the Protected/Special Rankings. Ranked 275 in the world, Nadal is well behind fellow Spaniards Carlos Alcaraz (World No 3), Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (World No 32), Pedro Martinez (World No 48) and Roberto Carballes Baena (World No 63) as the four representatives from his country.

The veteran could use his Protected Ranking to ensure he features among the four players from Spain. He would, however, also need to apply for an exemption from the ITF for not playing the Davis Cup since 2019. These factors along with his lengthy time out with injury, Olympic and Davis Cup records would make him liable for a special inclusion.

It is still possible for Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz to play doubles at the Paris Olympics based on the 21-year-old’s top-10 ranking in singles.