Paris 2024: Nadal’s Doubles Victory Keeps Hopes Alive, Murray Stages Comeback

Rafael Nadal continued his pursuit of a third Olympic gold on Tuesday, advancing to the men’s doubles quarter-finals with teammate Carlos Alcaraz. The duo, dubbed “Nadalcaraz,” won against Dutch players Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof, despite losing the second set, ultimately triumphing 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 10-2. Nadal expressed his enjoyment of the match, highlighting the positive energy and fun of playing alongside Alcaraz.

In other Olympic tennis news, Coco Gauff experienced a tough exit from the singles competition after a heated dispute with the umpire, while top seed Iga Swiatek smoothly moved into the quarter-finals.

Defending men’s singles champion Alexander Zverev defeated Tomas Machac in straight sets to reach the third round, joined by Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, who competed as a neutral. With temperatures soaring into the mid-30s Celsius, officials at Roland Garros implemented a heat protocol, allowing a 10-minute break between the second and third sets.

Nadal, playing just a day after being ousted from the singles competition by Novak Djokovic in their 60th meeting, and Alcaraz overcame a spirited challenge from their Dutch opponents, securing their spot in the quarters after a two-hour and 22-minute battle.

Andy Murray, in his final tournament and paired with Dan Evans, once again staged a dramatic comeback. The British pair saved match points for the second consecutive round, defeating Belgium’s Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen 6-3, 6-7 (8/10), 11-9 to reach the quarter-finals. Murray, emotional after the win, expressed his excitement and relief, looking forward to a day off.

In the women’s draw, Donna Vekic upset world number two Gauff 7-6 (9/7), 6-2, in a match overshadowed by a prolonged argument between Gauff and the chair umpire. The controversy arose during the sixth game of the second set, where a disputed call led to a crucial break for Vekic. Gauff, visibly upset, argued that the initial call compromised her shot. Following the match, a tearful Gauff lamented the unfairness she felt she had experienced.

Iga Swiatek extended her unbeaten streak on Parisian clay to 24 matches by defeating China’s Wang Xiyu 6-3, 6-4. Swiatek will face Danielle Collins of the USA in the next round. Other notable victories included Angelique Kerber, Barbora Krejcikova, and Zheng Qinwen, all progressing further in the tournament.