Paris Olympics: ‘Nadalcaraz’ Dream Ends as Nadal and Alcaraz Exit Doubles in Quarters

Spain’s dream team of Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz saw their hopes for an Olympic doubles gold medal dashed on Wednesday by Americans Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek. This defeat almost certainly marks Nadal’s farewell to Roland Garros. Despite capturing the crowd’s hearts at the venue where Nadal has won 14 French Open singles titles, their journey ended in a 6-2, 6-4 quarter-final loss.

“If this was the last time, I enjoyed it”

Reflecting on the match, the 38-year-old Nadal expressed his gratitude: “If this was the last time, it was unforgettable. The love and support from the crowd every second was incredibly special.” The duo, affectionately dubbed “Nadalcaraz,” received enthusiastic support on a packed Court Philippe Chatrier, with the atmosphere resembling a football stadium as fans cheered them on.

The tension peaked when Krajicek, serving for the match, faced break points. The arena erupted, and the umpire struggled to maintain order. However, the American fourth seeds kept their composure, and Krajicek’s ace on match point silenced the crowd as the umpire confirmed the ball had clipped the white tape.

Nadal, who began the Games carrying the Olympic flame in the opening ceremony, ended without the third gold medal he had hoped for. As he left the court with Alcaraz, it felt like a poignant moment, with fans capturing the scene on their phones.

“Personally, it was disappointing not to bring back a medal for Spain,” Nadal said. “I tried my best every minute I was on court, but it wasn’t enough. I don’t know what the future holds, but if this was the last time, I enjoyed it.”

The 22-time Grand Slam champion has been non-committal about his retirement, though it seems imminent. When asked about playing in the U.S. Open after the Olympics, he replied, “I can’t give you a clear answer. I need some time, but it looks difficult.”

SPECIAL ATMOSPHERE
Krajicek acknowledged the special atmosphere, despite spoiling the script. “Being in that environment, you have to soak it all in,” he said. “The energy was incredible.”

Nadal and Alcaraz faced a well-coordinated team, with the 40-year-old Ram, a four-time Grand Slam men’s doubles champion, excelling with sharp net play. While they had previously ridden a wave of support and played inspiring matches in Paris, Alcaraz, who had earlier reached the singles quarter-finals, struggled this time, serving consecutive double faults to give away the first set.

There was no comeback this time, as Alcaraz dropped serve to love at 3-3, with their frustration evident in a disputed line call after a Ram winner. “I enjoyed every second playing together,” Alcaraz said. “We’re disappointed because we wanted to continue.”

Ram and Krajicek will now face the Czech duo Tomas Machac and Adam Pavlasek for a place in the gold medal match.