PICTURE: Rafael Nadal & Carlos Alcaraz indulging in board games with Carlos Moya & David Ferrer before Paris Olympics doubles 2R goes viral
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal were spotted playing a board game with the latter's coach Carlos Moya and Spain's team captain David Ferrer. The quartet indulged in the activity before Nadal and Alcaraz played their 2024 Paris Olympics men's doubles second-round match.
On Tuesday, July 30, the Spanish pair of Nadal and Alcaraz takes on Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof. Spain got the better of Argentina's Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez 7-6(4), 6-4 in the first round. Meanwhile, the Netherlands defeated Hungary's Fábián Marozsán and Márton Fucsovics 6-2, 6-3.
Before Spain took to Court Suzanne-Lenglen at Roland Garros to face the Netherlands, the fan-favorite pair was spotted indulging in board games with their compatriots. Former Australian player Paul McNamee took to X to share the image. He captioned it:
"One of those Olympics moments… Spanish legends Moya & Ferrer join Nadal & Alcaraz in a quiet corner as they play a board game before their doubles PS I don’t think I’m invading privacy as a film crew was recording it 😉"
Carlos Alcaraz faced difficulty in dealing with nerves partnering Rafael Nadal at the Paris Olympics 2024
Carlos Alcaraz is participating in his first Olympics in Paris while Nadal is playing his fourth Games. The 38-year-old is a two-time Olympic gold-medalist with one of those being a gold medal in the men's doubles event.
To participate in his first Games along with an experienced figure like Nadal was nerve-wracking for the young reigning Wimbledon champion. Moreover, the crowded Philippe-Chatrier also got to him during their first-round encounter in men's doubles against Argentina. Alcaraz told the press:
"It wasn't Rafa himself that was imposing on me, but the situation. In the end, seeing the Philippe-Chatrier stadium full, playing with Rafa, my first Olympics... It was a moment, I'll say, that was difficult to deal with the nerves."
"I was quite nervous at the beginning but then, as the match progressed, I managed them (nerves) in a more appropriate way. And in the end we ended up playing great tennis and thoroughly enjoying the moment," he added.
The 21-year-old managed to handle his nerves well and get through the first-round battle convincingly. He has reached the third round in the singles event as well. However, Nadal failed to cross the second-round barrier in the singles event as he fell to top seed Novak Djokovic.