The Spanish dream team of Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz has played down expectations about them winning a medal at the Olympics ahead of the start of the tennis event in Paris on Wednesday, July 24. Nadal and Alcaraz are all set to partner each other in the doubles event, and have been the main focus of the event. However, the duo haven’t played a lot of doubles matches during their career, something that Nadal pointed out to.
Speaking to the reporters, as quoted by Reuters, Nadal said that his pairing with Alcaraz doesn’t necessarily translate into success at the event. The former World No.1 said that he and Alcaraz hasn’t had a lot of time to prepare together for the event as compared to some of the other teams. Nadal, who has been struggling with injuries, said that when it comes to doubles, the movements are completely different and he will need to adjust to it.
“I understand a little bit the morbid illusion of seeing us play together but let’s not think that this translates into success, I think it’s a mistake. Carlos hasn’t played many doubles and I haven’t played many doubles or many singles lately,” the 38-year-old Nadal told reporters.
“We are going to do our best to try, at least, to leave with the peace of mind of having done everything possible to get where we can get (but) obviously, we have not been able to prepare together for a tournament like this, where there are other doubles teams that have been preparing,” he added.
“Things happen much faster, the reflexes have to be ready and the movements are not automatic when one has not played for a long time, there are doubles movements that are completely different from the individual ones,” the Spaniard said.
What Alcaraz said
While Nadal was cautious, Alcaraz felt that playing at Roland Garros a few weeks ago will makes things easier for him at the Olympics. The young Spaniard also feels with training in the coming days, they would be able to adapt well and start the tournament in the best possible way.
“I have not had the opportunity to play many doubles tournaments, but obviously having the illusion of returning to Roland Garros, to these courts that I have always enjoyed playing… makes it easier,” Alcaraz said.
“We also have days of training, individually and doubles to adapt as best as possible again, for my part to return to clay and be able to gain confidence to start the tournament in the best possible way,” he added.
The Olympic tennis competition will begin on July 27 and will go on till August 4.
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