The Spaniard worked out with Carlos Alcaraz and Philippe Chatrier; he should be ready to play tomorrow.
Rafael Nadal returned to work today on Philippe Chatrier after postponing his training sessions for yesterday in order to assess his physical readiness for the forthcoming Paris Olympics tennis competition. He always has Carlos Alcaraz by his side, and tomorrow afternoon he will play his men’s doubles debut alongside the Argentine doubles team of Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni.
#Paris2024 | Rafa Nadal vuelve a entrenar después de suspender las sesiones del jueves https://t.co/fINk5aZXfZ#LaHora26J pic.twitter.com/J8KsOP3qhz
— La Hora de La 1 (@LaHoraTVE) July 26, 2024
especially if Rafa’s coach Carlos Moya expressed concern about his physical condition, the Spaniard’s return to training is already encouraging, especially with the precautionary measures brought about by the bandage on his right thigh. About Rafa’s actual possibilities of competing in this tournament, more information will only be available during the upcoming training sessions. Sunday is the singles release date. The former world champion Marton Fucsovic of Hungary will make things hard for him in the opening round.
Although Nadal is one of the most anticipated athletes in the Paris Olympics, there was—and maybe still is—some danger associated with the Spanish champion’s attendance. Moya shocked the millions of Spanish tennis fans (as well as the journalists and insiders who adore the game) yesterday by disclosing that Nadal had a setback and had chosen to forgo all practice sessions in order to heal.
Although Moya stated that Rafa and his group would allow themselves a full 48 hours to wait and assess the circumstances, the coach was unable to ensure that Nadal would play. His remarks have undoubtedly upset the atmosphere, which was eagerly anticipating his final appearance at the Olympics, particularly in light of a potential matchup with Novak Djokovic in the second round. Still, no decisions have been made. Throughout his illustrious career, Rafael Nadal has acclimated us to amazing exploits and occasionally unbelievable comebacks.
With his young career at stake, Carlos Alcaraz is prepared to compete in his first Olympics. The 21-year-old Spaniard became the youngest person to win four major championships in a single year when he won both the French Open and the Wimbledon Championships.
Bookmakers view the former world number one as the clear favorite to win the gold medal on Paris’ red clay, particularly in light of Jannik Sinner’s stunning defeat because of tonsillitis. Alongside 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, Carlitos will play the single and double. Despite a thigh ache, Carlitos appears set to compete. He has been training this morning.
Despite the fact that the Spanish player has already proven to be incredibly complete and adaptable, Alcaraz will be able to play on his preferred surface. The Murcia native, 21, has Grand Slam victories under his belt on every surface and has never disguised his ambition to rank among the greatest of all time. Carlos, who is presently ranked third in the ATP rankings behind Djokovic and Sinner, has become the new king of men’s tennis after sustaining several injuries in the early months of the season.
Carlitos’s declaration
Carlos Alcaraz will play Rafa Nadal in the doubles match against the formidable Gonzalez/Molteni combination and Habib in the singles on Saturday. The young Spaniard has said that he will not be at tonight’s opening ceremony because of this. Alcaraz also explained his decision to remain in the village rather than a hotel, saying, “I want to be among my people and experience their passion and energy.” While lodging in a hotel would offer a more tranquil experience, the memories, embraces, and selfies I capture from the mothers I meet here will last a lifetime.”
Carlitos has high expectations even though these is his first Olympics: “We’re doing our thing, and he’s doing his.” Though we don’t chat much, when we go to the Games, we’ll talk about doubles and most importantly, how we’re going to play. Right now, I don’t feel anxious. I shall be there when the time comes. Indeed, he has undoubtedly previously gone through this; he is aware of what it’s like to compete in the Olympics and to take home the gold in both the singles and doubles categories. I have to listen to him and keep my lips shut because I’m new and the rookie here.
Me hacía mucha ilusión poder ir hoy a la Ceremonia Inaugural de los JJOO con , pero mañana tengo dos partidos y lo aconsejable es descansar y estar listo! Esto empieza!
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) July 26, 2024
My objective is to win the title and deliver a medal, ideally a gold one, to my nation. I will go into the competition with the sole belief that I can succeed. Of course, playing doubles with Rafa will be a dream come true for me. Of course, we’ll aim to win the gold medal once more.
On Saturday, Alcaraz has two games scheduled.
If Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal hope to go past Gonzalez and Molteni in the opening round, they will need to play outstanding tennis. The 22-time Grand Slam victor enjoys playing alongside his youthful countryman: “I haven’t spent much time on the tour recently. Carlos and I have gotten along well since our first interactions. I don’t know the gals as well. You feel refreshed and relived when you’re with someone like Carlos; it’s like when you were twenty and learning about the world, and it was all extremely special. It pleases me to watch Carlos enjoy his first Olympics and become the center of attention in the Village.
Nothing at the Olympics is ever about you. You play for your nation and have a sense of belonging to the entire Spanish team. You experience love and support, and there’s no feeling like coming back to the Village with a medal. With Marc López, one of my closest friends, Rio was an opportunity to win. I was also on the verge of cancelling my game and only showing up at the last minute. They’ve always been special occasions, so perhaps we’ll be here for a while.
Enthusiasts believed Carlitos would compete in the Olympics in Paris against his fierce opponent Jannik Sinner. The two youthful champions faced off in the French Open semifinal last month, where the Spaniard prevailed in five sets after playing incredible tennis against one another. That time, in the latter stages of the game, the Spaniard had capitalized on the Italian’s physical deterioration. Experts on tennis predicted a rematch at the Wimbledon Championships, but Daniil Medvedev unexpectedly defeated Jannik in the quarterfinals.
In the absence of Sinner, Novak Djokovic ought to be Alcaraz’s primary rival. The Olympics are the Serbian’s primary objective this year, despite not being in his finest form as a player.