Following the match, Rafael Nadal gave an update on his plans after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the doubles round to end his 2024 Paris Olympics experience.
In the Olympic doubles competition, the two Spaniards looked like a strong team, but they were eliminated in the quarterfinals. They performed admirably in the first round, defeating two strong couples, but they were finally defeated by Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek, hence they were unable to go past the quarterfinals.
Nadal and Alcaraz didn’t play well throughout the match; they lost easily in two sets. Nadal was already out of the Olympics after being defeated by Novak Djokovic in the singles.
For the 38-year-old Spaniard, who thought that this wouldn’t be his final performance in Paris, it was a sad occasion. It remains to be seen if he returns to Roland Garros the following year and if he makes the trip to the US Open in the US.
Reporters were eager to know if Nadal planned to participate in that tournament, so the 22-time major winner gave an update—albeit one that was characteristically hazy and unclear.
Although he stated he hasn’t made up his mind, it doesn’t appear very probable that he will fly to the United States for the season’s final major.
Then he thought back on his time at the Olympics, which was enjoyable overall because the crowd supported him in every game he participated in. Players never forget the moments when the crowd exploded in cheers when the Spaniard broke back against Djokovic, demonstrating to the world how strongly they were backing him.
All the more so because he had his final Olympics on the Roland Garros courts in Paris. He wouldn’t want to spend this unique occasion in any other manner.
“Possibly. If that’s the last time, I believe the feelings and sensations will be with me forever. Every moment I’ve been on the court, they have shown me love and support.”
I can’t thank them all enough for giving me the sensation that they make me feel and for making me feel that in particular in this place because it’s really, very significant to me. I’m not sure what will happen in the future, but even if that was the final time, I still had fun.”
Fans will be eager to see Nadal back on the courts, whether that ends up being someplace in the United States or possibly later this year in Europe. After all, neither he nor anybody else knows what the future holds.