Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz have been selected to represent Spain in the tennis doubles competition at the Paris Olympics, which kicks off on July 26. The announcement was made by David Ferrer, the former world No 3 and current national selector for Spain, during a press conference held by the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation. Alongside Nadal and Alcaraz, the men’s team will also include Pablo Carreno Busta, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and doubles specialist Marcel Granollers, who currently holds the top ranking in the world for doubles with his partner Horacio Zeballos.
Ferrer expressed his belief that Nadal and Alcaraz have the potential to win a medal in the doubles competition at the Olympics. This will be a significant moment for Alcaraz, who is set to make his Olympic debut following his title defense at Wimbledon and recent victory over Alexander Zverev in the Roland Garros final. As for Nadal, this will mark his last appearance at the Games, where he already holds a singles gold medal from Beijing 2008 and a doubles gold medal from Rio de Janeiro 2016 with his partner Marc Lopez. Despite not setting a retirement date, Nadal has not ruled out a return to the French Open in 2025.
The decision to include Nadal and Alcaraz in the men’s tennis doubles team comes after Nadal expressed doubts about his participation at Wimbledon, citing concerns about his physical condition. However, Nadal remains on the entry list for the prestigious tournament, utilizing his protected injury ranking of 10. Regardless of his performance at Wimbledon, the focus will shift to the Paris Olympics, where Nadal and Alcaraz will aim to make a strong impression on the international stage. With their combined talent and experience, they have the potential to challenge some of the top pairs in the world.
While the men’s team is shaping up to be a strong contender at the Olympics, the women’s side will see Paula Badosa missing out due to WTA rules. Badosa has opted to use her protected injury ranking to enter the upcoming Grand Slam tournaments at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, but she was not permitted to use this ranking for both tournaments and the Olympics. As a result, Sara Sorribes Tormo and Cristina Bucsa will represent Spain in the women’s tennis competition at the Games. Despite the setback, Spain remains hopeful of putting on a strong performance in both the men’s and women’s events.
The selection of Nadal and Alcaraz as the men’s tennis doubles team for the Paris Olympics signals Spain’s commitment to fielding a competitive and formidable lineup at the Games. With the wealth of talent and experience possessed by these players, as well as the expertise of doubles specialist Marcel Granollers, Spain has a strong chance of making an impact in the tennis competition. Nadal’s farewell appearance at the Olympics adds an emotional element to the event, as fans and fellow athletes will have the opportunity to witness one of the greatest players of all time competing on the world stage for one last time. As the countdown to the Paris Olympics begins, all eyes will be on Nadal, Alcaraz, and the rest of the Spanish tennis team as they prepare to represent their country with pride and determination.
