Paris 2024: Nadal and Alcaraz Dominate Doubles Opener

Rafa Nadal made a triumphant return to his favorite venue, this time joined by young tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz. On Saturday, Spain’s new dynamic duo began their quest for Olympic gold, thrilling fans at the Court Philippe Chatrier with a 7-6(4) 6-4 victory over the sixth-seeded Argentine team of Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni.

Earlier in the day, 21-year-old Alcaraz showcased his skill by defeating Lebanon’s Hady Habib 6-3 6-1 in the singles competition on an opening day marred by rain, which resulted in the completion of only a few matches.

Men’s top seed Novak Djokovic had a commanding 6-0 6-1 win against Australian alternate Matthew Ebden, while women’s favorite Iga Swiatek of Poland fought hard for a 6-2 7-5 victory over Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu.

However, the main attraction was the debut of the ‘Nadalcaraz’ partnership, promising to create memorable moments on the Parisian clay. This match marked the first competitive pairing of Nadal, a 14-time French Open champion, and Alcaraz, who has already won four Grand Slams, including this year’s French Open and Wimbledon.

Despite some initial missteps and Alcaraz’s admitted nerves playing alongside his idol, the duo found their rhythm, impressing a crowd that included Nadal’s son Rafa Jr. and the daughters of Spain’s King Felipe.

“An unforgettable moment for me, without a doubt,” Nadal told reporters. “I think for him too, to come out here on this stage and play together representing Spain in the Olympic Games is a combination that is difficult to beat.”

Nadal’s preparation was unique, having spent the previous night carrying the Olympic torch on the Seine River during the rainy opening ceremony. Despite injury concerns and the likelihood of this being his final appearance at Roland Garros, Nadal delivered a performance reminiscent of his early triumphs.

Nadal is set to play Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics on a Sunday packed with 68 matches, though he plans to consult with his team before deciding.

“I’ll talk with my people and then make the smartest decision possible to have the best chances to bring some medals back home,” said Nadal, who is considering retirement due to injuries but remains hopeful for another Olympic title.

Meanwhile, Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, is still seeking his first Olympic gold after several near misses. He began his campaign convincingly, defeating Ebden in just 53 minutes. Djokovic might face Nadal next, depending on the outcome of Nadal’s match against Fucsovics.

“He has to win his first round tomorrow, but playing him is like a final for me in any tournament, and particularly here, knowing what he has achieved,” Djokovic said, contemplating an 11th career meeting with Nadal at Roland Garros.

Swiatek opened the tournament under the closed roof of Court Philippe Chatrier, 50 days after winning her fourth French Open there. She admitted it was a challenging start but was relieved to advance.

“I’m happy that I’m through because first rounds are never easy, especially at the Olympics,” Swiatek told reporters.

Heavy rain disrupted the day’s play, frustrating fans without tickets as no matches took place on the uncovered courts. Italy’s Jasmine Paolini defeated Romania’s Ana Bogdan 7-5 6-3, while Germany’s retiring Angelique Kerber extended her career with a win over Japan’s Naomi Osaka by the same score.

French favorite Caroline Garcia faced disappointment, losing to Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the Olympic competition.