Rafael Nadal 'excited' by Carlos Alcaraz's doubles partnership proposal for Paris Olympics 2024: "I think all things being well, we will play"
Rafael Nadal has responded positively to Carlos Alcaraz's proposal about the two Spaniards pairing up at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris later this year.
Ahead of his campaign at the 2024 Madrid Open, Alcaraz touched upon the idea of partnering with Rafael Nadal at the 2024 Olympic Games. In a conversation with MARCA, Alcaraz had said while it is his dream to play alongside Nadal, he has not "dared" to pitch the proposal to him.
"We have not talked about it. I have met him these days, in the last tournaments, and the truth is that I have not dared to tell him. I don't know, it's something that would make me very excited, it would be a dream and that's why it forces me. Having to tell him imposes on me," Alcaraz said.
Rafael Nadal was recently asked about Alcaraz's comment during his appearance on Iguales, the official podcast of the Madrid Open. The 37-year-old said Alcaraz does not need to ask him about pairing up for the Olympics, and he, too, is excited by this proposition.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion added that he would like to play doubles with Alcaraz at a tournament before the Olympics to get into the rhythm of playing together and build a "rapport." Moreover, the senior Spaniard thought they would be "great" together and give Spain a formidable team at the Games.
“No, he doesn’t have to ask me anything. I think all things being well, we will play. It’s also hugely exciting for me. If I am not mistaken, I have heard it is from him too. So it would be amazing to play the odd tournament before the Olympics to prepare ourselves to get some rapport on the court," the Mallorcan said.
"I think if we are both fit enough, then why not. We could have the chance to form a great team and aspire to great things. It would be good for both of us. I think it would also be good for the Spanish team. So we will see how things progress," he added.
Rafael Nadal is a former doubles gold medalist at Olympic Games
Rafael Nadal is amongst the most decorated tennis players in Olympic history. The Spaniard has two gold medals at the event, coming in the singles and the doubles category. He made his Olympic debut at the 2004 Games in Athens and partnered with Carlos Moya to play doubles. The duo lost in the opening round.
At the 2008 Beijing Games, the former World No. 1 bagged his first gold medal in the singles category. As the No. 2 seed, he bettered Chile's Fernando Gonzalez in the gold medal match. The king of clay missed the 2012 London Games.
At the 2016 Rio Games, he picked his second gold medal. Nadal and Marc Lopez led Spain to victory in the doubles gold medal match by defeating Romanian duo Florian Mergea and Horia Tecau. In the singles category, the Spaniard finished fourth.