Although the scene is indeed amazing, the term does not give it credit. Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz had an intense practice session on Roland Garros' Court Philippe-Chatrier late on Wednesday morning.
David Ferrer, the captain of the Spanish team competing in Paris in 2024, gave the players instructions to continue honing their skills in front of about fifty curious spectators. This was an incredible and unusual experience for the two players, as they had only practised together once before, at Indian Wells in 2022.
The current Paris champion Alcaraz and 14-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal concentrated on his singles campaigns during their first session. After lunch, in the afternoon, they went back to the court to tackle a task that has the entire sports world buzzing: Nadal and Alcaraz will compete together in doubles for Spain for the first time in Paris. Much of the attention in the days preceding the tournament has been taken up by their well-known collaboration.
'The biggest event is the Olympic Games,' Nadal declared. 'We'll be working to make sure we can go with the assurance that we've done everything we possibly can. Although we haven't had the same amount of time to practice as other pairings, we are confident in Carlos' form. For this to work, I'm hoping that my extended time on the court last week helped me physically elevate the bar.'
Alcaraz screamed, 'I'm so excited to be here at the Games.' 'Although I have less experience, I intend to pick up doubles rapidly. Playing with Rafa is a dream come true for me. The journey is challenging yet thrilling. I'm going to try to make full use of it. We intend to play a lot of games together. It's something I will always remember.'
Cómo debería llamarse esta pareja de dobles? ? @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/YqWI7LVfg6
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) July 23, 2024
For the two players, the preparations could not have been more unlike. After winning Wimbledon on Monday, Alcaraz departed London and had a few days off before going back to his home city of Murcia to practise on clay courts. In contrast, Rafael Nadal participated in Bastad, his first tournament since Roland Garros, and made it to the final before returning to Paris.
The two celebrities will compete together in doubles on Saturday for the first time as they start their quest to win an Olympic gold for Spain.
Although we haven't seen each other much lately, Nadal stated, 'It's an opportunity to spend some time together and learn from these new generations.' You feel refreshed and transported back to your 20s when you're with him. It's incredible to see him participate in his first Olympic Games with the knowledge that he is a major draw, something he handles quite well.
'The way he interacts with teammates demonstrates his professionalism, and that is the legacy one leaves in sports and for those teammates. He's delighted to converse with everybody and always has a smile on his face. He's a terrific role model, and that's great,' Nadal continued.
Alcaraz said, 'I have everything to learn from Nadal.' 'His competitive nature, his perseverance on the court, and his never-say-die attitude... His ability to flip situations around is impressive, and both on and off the court, I constantly want to emulate him. Considering all he has accomplished, his modesty is admirable.'
Throughout Wednesday, despite the laughs and light-hearted banter that characterised the day, those complimentary remarks persisted: 'You're not allowed to wrong-foot him!' After the 21-year-old accomplished this and gained a point, Carlos Moya informed Alcaraz.
On Saturday, we will see their competitive expressions, but don't be shocked to see a few more grins as well.
Also Read: 10 facts about the Olympics that will blow your mind
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