Alcaraz/Nadal win doubles debut at Paris Olympics

 

● The Spaniards came back from 0-3 down in the second set

Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal got off to a blistering start in their highly anticipated doubles debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Saturday, where the Spanish duo defeated sixth-seeded Argentines Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 7-6(4), 6-4 to reach the second round.

“It was an emotional night, an electric night, an incredible crowd,” Nadal told reporters. “Playing with Carlos on this court was really special. We are just super happy with the win, which gave us the chance to continue.”

Alcaraz, who had started the day with a singles win in her Olympic debut, got off to a nervous start, losing serve in the opening game and having to fend off two break points in her second service game.

But it was the more experienced Nadal, 38, making his fourth Olympic appearance, who helped stabilize the team with banana-curving forehand winners and lightning-fast reflexes at the net.

Both wearing the red jerseys of Spain and white shorts, Alcaraz and Nadal resorted to the “two back” strategy in the return, with the left-handed Nadal returning to the two-back side.

Alcaraz and Nadal then tried to seize the early opportunities to exploit the corners and push their way forward to take control of the rallies.

They took a mini-break lead at 3/3 in the first set tie-break, when Alcaraz hit a forehand that hit the net and deflected off Gonzalez’s racket.

Alcaraz and Nadal were trailing 0-3 in the second set before winning three consecutive games to consolidate their positive momentum, earning a crucial break at 4-4.

The 92-time tour champion Nadal then served out the match, accompanied by fans chanting “Rafa! Rafa!” under the roof of Court-Philippe Chatrier.

Nadal, a two-time gold medalist (singles in Beijing in 2008, doubles in Rio in 2016 with Marc Lopez), played the entire match, which lasted one hour and 47 minutes, with his upper right leg bandaged, but the left-hander showed no signs of difficulty in his movements.

Next up for the pair of former world No. 1s in the PIF ATP rankings are Dutchmen Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof or Hungarians Marton Fucsovics and Fabian Marozsan. Fucsovics is Nadal’s first-round singles opponent. [atptour.com]

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