Matching Report
Alcaraz/Nadal lights up Paris Olympics, reaches QFs
The Spaniards will next play the Americans Krajicek/Ram
July 30, 2024
Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal play in Paris on Tuesday.
By ATP staff
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal are still alive at the Paris Olympics! The Spaniards battled hard and produced signs of magic on Tuesday to secure a thrilling 6-4, 6-7(2), 10-2 victory over Dutchmen Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof and reach the quarter-finals.
Nadal was in a relaxed mood ahead of the match, with the 38-year-old hugging his son in the pre-match warm-up. The 92-time tourney hitter then took to the court alongside a pitched Alcaraz, with the pair receiving loud cheers from all corners of the field.
Dressed in Spanish red shirts and white shorts, Alcaraz and Nadal applied early pressure and earned the decisive break of a high-quality first set when Alcaraz blasted a cross-court dot to break Koolhof’s serve. Both roared, jumped from their seats and received support from the crowd, Spanish flags spread in Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Alcaraz and Nadal went into the match, while the crowd kept jumping to their feet to cheer Nadal’s banana-fold winners and Alcaraz’s quick hands at the net. In the hot conditions of Paris, the Spaniards were on fire in the Match Tie-break. Under pressure, Nadal raised his level and put himself through Griekspoor and Koolhof, hitting hard on the return and finding strong angles to propel him and Alcaraz to victory.
Nadal won two gold medals (2008 Beijing singles, 2016 Rio doubles with Marc Lopez) and played a mentor role throughout the Paris controversy. He offered repeated words of encouragement to the 21-year-old Alcaraz, who has improved throughout and shown why he is a four-time major champion with several winners from the forehand wing and effective moves at the net.
After sealing the victory in two hours and 24 minutes, fans chanted ‘Rafa! and Spain captain David Ferrer raised his arms to the sky in joy. Nadal is focused on the doubles after losing to Novak Djokovic in the singles on Monday and let out a roar and a happy smile after the victory in Alcaraz. Alcaraz, who defeated Griekspoor in singles on Monday, is making her Olympic debut and was delighted after the pair secured their second win in a week.
Alcaraz and Nadal, who saved all three break points they faced, hugged each other after the win and signed balls in the fans’ court.
The Spaniards will next play Americans Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in the quarter-finals. The fourth seed beat Brazilians Thiago Monteiro and Thiago Seyboth Wild 6-4, 7-6(3).
Source link
