"People want us to win gold, that's normal"- Carlos Alcaraz says "you don't win just by being a name" amid Rafael Nadal partnership at Paris Olympics
Carlos Alcaraz opened up on the expectation of winning a gold medal in the men's doubles event at the 2024 Paris Olympics where he is partnering Rafael Nadal. Alcaraz also talked about how they are managing pressure as a newly formed doubles pair.
The Spanish pair is a fan favorite in Paris and have felt the support in their matches. Each point of theirs is greeted with loud cheers and the crowd joins in their celebrations upon victory.
They have played two and won two as a newly formed doubles pair at the Olympics. In the first round, they defeated Argentina's Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez 7-6(4), 6-4 on Saturday, July 27. In the second round, they ousted the Dutch pair of Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof 6-4, 6-7(2), [10-2] on Tuesday, July 30.
In a post-match interview with "Eurosport", Alcaraz said he felt the Spanish pair played better in their second-round match as they worked on their coordination with more game time.
"I think we played at a very high level, much better than the first day in terms of how we positioned ourselves at the net. It was normal to start a little hesitant and as we give ourselves opportunities to continue advancing, we will go further," Alcaraz said (translated from Spanish)
The 21-year-old revealed they are expected to win gold but the Spanish pair tries not to think of the pressure.
"People obviously want us to win gold in doubles, but that's normal. We try not to think too much about it, about the pressure or that we have the obligation to do it... Obviously, you don’t win doubles just by being a name, so anything can happen," he added.
Rafael Nadal believes his partnership with Carlos Alcaraz is progressing at the Paris Olympics 2024
Rafael Nadal echoed Carlos Alcaraz's views about them playing better in the second round than in the first. The 38-year-old, however, feels they will still face a tough time against established doubles players.
“We have been getting along well, today more than the other day. Neither of us play too many doubles, so as the days go by we are improving, although the risk is always there when you play against established doubles players," Rafael Nadal told Eurosport (translated from Spanish).
Nadal and Alcaraz will face the risk in the quarterfinal as they go up against the USA's Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek. The US duo are doubles specialists and are both former World No. 1s in doubles. They have experience playing together and the duo has won multiple ATP Challenger titles and an ATP 250 title.
Ram and Krajicek defeated Brazil's Thiago Monteiro and Thiago Seyboth Wild 6-4, 7-6(3) and Australia's Alexei Poyrin and Alex de Minaur 6-2, 6-3. The quarterfinal clash between USA and Spain is set to take place on Wednesday, July 31.