By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz trained together at Roland Garros today then shared their thoughts on forming a Spanish doubles dream team.
Photo credit: RFETENIS Instagram
Days before the start of the Paris Olympics, Carlos Alcaraz spends his nights dreaming of gold-medal success alongside Rafael Nadal.
The Spanish Dream Team of reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz and 14-time French Open champion Nadal trained together on Court Philippe Chatrier today ahead of the Paris Olympics.
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The Paris Olympic tennis event starts on Saturday on Roland Garros' red clay.
Today, the Spanish squad made the media in Paris prior to the announced withdrawal of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
Alcaraz aims to be good as gold in Paris and points to lessons he's learned from childhood hero Nadal as key components to his growth as a champion.
The youngest man to win Grand Slam titles on all three major surfaces said Nadal has taught him to be a humble warrior. To fight fiercely for every single point, find solutions to challenges on court and accept the results of those battles—win or lose—with dignity.
"I can probably learn everything from Rafa," Alcaraz told the media in comments published by L'Equipe.
"[Rafa] is one of the greatest in the history of tennis and sport in general. The way he plays competitively, the way he fights on the court, the way he never lets go or the way he gives up a point.
"His problem-solving skills are admirable and I try to follow his example, on and off the court. His humility, after all that he has accomplished, commands admiration."
Based on their practice sessions together this week, it looks like the Spanish superstar Dream Team will play forehands in the middle with the left-handed Nadal playing the deuce side and the right-handed Alcaraz playing the ad side of the court.
Some fans have dubbed the Dream Team "Nadalcaraz", while former world No. 1 Andy Roddick calls them "Rafaraz".
Asked what he regards as their official team name, Nadal joked "it will depend on the result."
"It's a great moment to be here at the Games even though I've already participated several times," Nadal told the media. "What will be the name of our double with Alcaraz? It will depend on the result...
"We haven't been able to prepare together but we know that Carlos is going through a very good period and I hope to be at the level, the one I need to be able to function individually and collectively."
Two-time Olympic gold-medal champion Nadal captured the singles gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games defeating Lleyton Hewitt, Igor Andreev, Jurgen Melzer, Novak Djokovic and Chilean Fernando Gonzalez in the gold-medal match.
Eight years later, Nadal and good buddy Marc Lopez won the doubles gold at the Rio Olympics stopping Canadians Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil in the semifinals before knocking off Romania's Florin Mergea Horia Tecau in the gold-medal match.
Reflecting on his brilliant Beijing gold-medal run, Nadal said that victory "bigger than many Grand Slam tournaments" and shared he regards it as one of the highlights of his entire career.
"For me, Beijing 2008 was bigger than many Grand Slam tournaments. It's one of the best moments of my career, without a doubt," Nadal said. "At the Games, you feel like it's not just yourself. You represent a much bigger team and a country.
"You feel supported, loved, and coming back to the village with a medal is incredible. At Rio 2016, I was lucky to have a great friend like Marc by my side and every time I competed at the Games, it was an unforgettable moment."