Carlos Alcaraz on partnering Rafael Nadal at Paris Olympics 2024: “It was difficult to deal with the nerves”
While Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz emerged victorious in straight sets, the latter took a while to find his footing in the doubles setting. About his experience partnering his idol at Roland-Garros, the 21-year-old 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,” he said (translated from Spanish).
Alcaraz followed the two-time Olympic gold medalist’s (singles at Beijing 2008 and men’s doubles at Rio 2016) lead and had a considerable turnaround as the match progressed.
“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.
In the second round, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz await the winner between the Dutch pair, Wesley Koolhof and Tallon Griekspoor, and the Hungarian duo, Marton Fucsovics and Fabian Marozsan.
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