WATCH: Rafael Nadal reunites with Carlos Alcaraz at the Olympic Village ahead of their much awaited Paris Olympics doubles partnership
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz have reunited ahead of their 2024 Paris Olympics partnership. The pair arrived at the Olympic Village on Monday, July 22, and connected with the Spanish contingent.
Nadal arrived at the complex in Seine-Saint-Denis following a successful campaign at the ATP 250 event in Bastad, where he finished as the runner-up. This was his first tour final since his French Open victory in 2022. To get some much-needed matches under his belt before the Paris Olympics, the Spaniard also participated in doubles with Casper Ruud, reaching the semifinals.
Carlos Alcaraz, meanwhile, reached the Olympic Village later the same day. The four-time Grand Slam champion had been training for the event at his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero’s academy in Alicante just days after his Wimbledon title defense.
After he arrived in Paris, he met up with Rafael Nadal. The pair posed with fellow athletes from their country. The Spanish Olympic football team’s Sergio Camello shared a picture with the two former World No. 1s on Instagram.
They were also captured dining with their compatriots and sharing some laughs at the Village.
Carlos Alcaraz on his doubles partnership with Rafael Nadal at Paris Olympics: "I have to keep my mouth shut and just listen"
While tennis fans are cheering for their compatriots at the Games, the partnership between two generational legends—Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz—has expectedly stolen the limelight.
The fact that this will be the first and final time that they share the court on the Olympic stage makes the pairing unmissable. Alcaraz is set to make his debut, while the veteran is gearing up for his last dance at the Olympics.
Also worth noting is that the event is set to be held at Stade Roland-Garros, the venue of the French Open, where Carlos Alcaraz is the reigning champion and Nadal is the most successful champion, having won 14 titles.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has also enjoyed a successful Olympic career, bagging gold in singles as well as men’s doubles at Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016, respectively.
About their upcoming men’s doubles partnership, Carlos Alcaraz recently told ABC:
"When we're at the Games, we'll talk about the doubles and, above all, how we're going to do it," he said (translated from Spanish).
The 21-year-old also joked that he would “keep his mouth shut” and follow Rafael Nadal’s lead, considering his vast experience.
"I'm not nervous right now. When the time comes, I will be. And yes, obviously, he's already experienced this, he already knows what it's like to play in the Olympics, to win a gold in both singles and doubles. I'm new, I'm the rookie here, so I have to keep my mouth shut and just listen to him," he added.
Both Spaniards are set to compete in singles as well as doubles. The 21-year-old is the third seed at the singles event, while the 38-year-old has entered through a protected ranking.