Tomorrow will begin the Olympic tennis event, which guarantees pleasure and spectacle on the purple clay of Paris. Gamers will compete for medals in an iconic venue for our sport, on the identical tennis courts the place the French Open is performed.
The massive favorite for the gold medal is actually Carlos Alcaraz, who performs on his favorite floor the place he gained the French Open final month. The Spaniard additionally gained the Wimbledon Championships this yr and is the benchmark of the boys’s tour regardless of being behind Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic within the ATP rating.
The 21-year-old from Murcia should handle the strain of being the principle favorite at his first Olympics in his younger profession, which guarantees to be superb and filled with success. Carlitos – who shouldn’t be accompanied by his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero in Paris – may also play doubles with 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.
The 2 Spanish champions will debut tomorrow on Philippe Chatrier in opposition to the formidable pair fashioned by Gonzalez and Molteni, who’ve nice expertise in doubles and goal to win a medal. Rafa’s bodily situation has been inflicting concern to followers over the past 24 hours, as former world #1 had cancelled yesterday’s apply session as a consequence of an upset of his proper thigh.
Nadalcaraz shone
Rafa Nadal skilled alongside Carlos Alcaraz with a bandage on his proper thigh. It’s nonetheless unclear whether or not the 22-time Grand Slam champion will play the singles, whereas he will definitely be current in doubles tomorrow. Doubles requires much less power than the singles, factors are shorter and might be necessary to let Rafa know if he is ready to play the singles.
Nadal and Alcaraz confirmed good chemistry in coaching this morning, taking part in properly in opposition to compatriots Pablo Carreno Busta and Marcel Granollers. Rafa and Carlitos gained the apply set in opposition to compatriots with a rating of 6-3, a constructive check in view of tomorrow’s debut.
“Eso no vale tío, cuando se ponen así no vale” 😅
La ‘frustración’ de @pablocarreno91 entrenando con Nadal y Alcaraz y que invita al optimismo antes del debut.
🎾 ‘Nadalcaraz’ ganó 6-3 el set disputado entre las dos parejas españolas.#Paris2024 | #Olympics pic.twitter.com/TWQPM4Wajd
— Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) July 26, 2024
Talking with CLAY, Alcaraz reassured followers about Rafa’s situation: “The man is ok, he’s at his greatest. He’s at all times nice, like at all times!” Former ATP ace David Ferrer additionally spoke about Nadal: “I’m certain Rafa might be in tomorrow’s doubles as a result of he skilled properly immediately. Let’s see how he feels. The doubles requires much less depth than the singles, through which it’s a must to be very properly ready bodily and in full situation.”
Rafa’s aim is to take pleasure in his final Olympics as a lot as attainable, whatever the ultimate outcome. The previous world #1 has already gained the gold medal in singles (Beijing 2008) and doubles (Rio 2016). These might be my final Video games, that’s why I extremely worth being in Paris. I’m blissful about it, and to be right here, I’ve needed to undergo many troublesome moments,” defined Nadal in his press convention. “I see it as a reward, which rejuvenates you. It might end up higher or worse, however the pleasure nobody can take away from me. I’ve the perspective, and I’ll work every single day. Enjoying with among the finest on the earth (Alcaraz), and if accidents respect him, he might be among the finest in historical past, is an honor.”
The 22-time Grand Slam champion will make his debut in singles on Sunday in opposition to veteran Hungarian Marton Fucsovics. In case of victory, his subsequent opponent ought to be Novak Djokovic. The Serbian champion can have a clean debut in opposition to Matt Ebden and has by no means hidden his want to win the gold medal in Paris.
The top of an period is imminent
In the course of the press convention earlier than the beginning of the Olympics, Novak Djokovic spoke about Nadal and the upcoming finish of an period: “I’m conscious that an period is ending with Nadal and Murray’s retirements after the Video games. I believe my profession can also be coming to an finish, however I imagine that there are and might be tennis gamers able to taking up the burden of being one of the best. It will be thrilling to play in opposition to Nadal within the second spherical.”
Nole additionally added: “I had many alternatives to win gold and now I’ve to start out benefiting from them. The truth that I’m not the bookmakers’ favourite is only a motivation for me. The Olympic Video games have at all times been an amazing problem for me. I’ve targeted all my preparation on this event. I believe I’ll adapt instantly to the situations of Roland Garros since we performed there two months in the past.”
Followers and specialists are hoping to see a ultimate match between Djokovic and Nadal, who’ve made tennis historical past and have confronted one another on the earth’s most necessary tournaments for 18 years. Their first match was on the French Open in 2006, when a younger Nole confirmed character in opposition to the Spanish legend.