TENNIS
Alcaraz hopes to team up with Nadal at the 2024 Olympics
The current world No. 1 stated that he would love to play doubles with Rafa Nadal in next year’s Olympic Games before the Spanish legend retires.
Carlos Alcaraz wants to be remembered as one of the best tennis players ever when he retires. The young Spanish superstar is only 20 but he has already won one major and is planning to add a lot more during his career.
This year’s French Open, which starts on Sunday, is one of Alcaraz’s biggest motivations, as he will be looking to emulate one of his tennis idols, Rafa Nadal, who conquered the title 14 times.
Carlitos, who recently admitted that he would love to play against Nadal at the French Open, won’t be able to share the court in an official match with the 22-time major winner in Paris, as Nadal didn’t recover in time from his hip injury suffered at the Australian Open.
Already on top of the ATP rankings, Alcaraz is willing to win as many titles as possible and will be eyeing Wimbledon and the US Open once the second Grand Slam tournament of the calendar comes to an end.
A wish that could be granted
Besides all those big challenges he has in mind, the Murcia-bred player has a motivating goal aiming at the 2024 Olympic Games, which will be held in Paris.
The current US Open champion admitted that he would love to team up with Nadal in the doubles tournament in what is expected to be Nadal’s last year on the courts.
“For me, it could be a dream playing doubles with him in the Olympics. Let’s see how he’s doing and how he’s going this year. Hopefully, he’s going great”, he said.
“I felt bad when I heard that Rafa was not able to play here in Roland Garros and probably the rest of the year.“As a fan of tennis, I always watched Rafa play. I always want to watch the best players in the world playing tournaments”, he added.
Alcaraz is the favorite to go all the way in the Parisian clay courts and lift his second Grand Slam tournament trophy in his young career. Novak Djokovic, Holger Rune, Jannik Sinner, and Stefanos Tsitsipas are some of the top contenders who will try to stop the Spaniard in his quest for glory in Paris.