NEW DELHI: Rafael Nadal‘s Olympic journey in Paris concluded on Wednesday evening when he and his partner, Carlos Alcaraz, suffered a 6-2, 6-4 defeat against the American pair of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram, who were seeded fourth in the men’s doubles quarterfinals. This loss likely marks the end of Nadal’s Olympic career.
The match took place at Court Philippe Chatrier, the iconic venue where Nadal has clinched a record-breaking 14 French Open titles, contributing to his impressive collection of 22 Grand Slam victories, AP reported.
The packed stadium passionately cheered and chanted in support of Nadal and Alcaraz, particularly Nadal, as they fought to avoid defeat in the final game.
Nadal has not made any official statements regarding his future plans or potential retirement. However, considering his age and recent struggles with injuries, the prospect of him participating in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics seems highly unlikely. It remains uncertain whether he will continue competing beyond the Paris Games.
Throughout his Olympic career, Nadal has secured gold medals for Spain in both singles and doubles events. He triumphed in the singles competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and claimed victory in the doubles at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
In this year’s Paris Games, Nadal faced defeat in the singles event on Monday, losing to his long-time rival Novak Djokovic.
The doubles match seemed all but decided when Ram delivered a return winner off Alcaraz’s serve, breaking him at love to take a 4-3 lead in the second set. The Spaniards, convinced the ball was out, bent down to inspect the clay and argued their case with French chair umpire Morgane Lara, but the call stood.
Nadal, known for never giving up, and Alcaraz managed to earn a break point, giving them a chance to extend the match as Krajicek served for the win. However, the Spaniards couldn’t capitalize, and soon after, Alcaraz and Nadal were embracing on one side of the net, while Ram and Krajicek did the same on the other.
After gathering his gear from the sideline, Nadal took a moment to look around the court that has meant so much to him throughout his tennis career. He waved to the spectators, who responded with a standing ovation—one of many Nadal received during these Olympics—as they bid him farewell.
Nadal paused briefly before stepping through the doorway leading to the locker room, while Alcaraz placed a comforting hand on his partner’s shoulder.
Though Nadal and Alcaraz are not regular doubles partners—this was their first event as a pair—they bring a remarkable pedigree to the court, boasting a combined 26 Grand Slam singles titles. Alcaraz alone has claimed four, including victories at this year’s French Open in June and Wimbledon in July.
The match took place at Court Philippe Chatrier, the iconic venue where Nadal has clinched a record-breaking 14 French Open titles, contributing to his impressive collection of 22 Grand Slam victories, AP reported.
The packed stadium passionately cheered and chanted in support of Nadal and Alcaraz, particularly Nadal, as they fought to avoid defeat in the final game.
Nadal has not made any official statements regarding his future plans or potential retirement. However, considering his age and recent struggles with injuries, the prospect of him participating in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics seems highly unlikely. It remains uncertain whether he will continue competing beyond the Paris Games.
Throughout his Olympic career, Nadal has secured gold medals for Spain in both singles and doubles events. He triumphed in the singles competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and claimed victory in the doubles at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
In this year’s Paris Games, Nadal faced defeat in the singles event on Monday, losing to his long-time rival Novak Djokovic.
The doubles match seemed all but decided when Ram delivered a return winner off Alcaraz’s serve, breaking him at love to take a 4-3 lead in the second set. The Spaniards, convinced the ball was out, bent down to inspect the clay and argued their case with French chair umpire Morgane Lara, but the call stood.
Nadal, known for never giving up, and Alcaraz managed to earn a break point, giving them a chance to extend the match as Krajicek served for the win. However, the Spaniards couldn’t capitalize, and soon after, Alcaraz and Nadal were embracing on one side of the net, while Ram and Krajicek did the same on the other.
After gathering his gear from the sideline, Nadal took a moment to look around the court that has meant so much to him throughout his tennis career. He waved to the spectators, who responded with a standing ovation—one of many Nadal received during these Olympics—as they bid him farewell.
Nadal paused briefly before stepping through the doorway leading to the locker room, while Alcaraz placed a comforting hand on his partner’s shoulder.
Though Nadal and Alcaraz are not regular doubles partners—this was their first event as a pair—they bring a remarkable pedigree to the court, boasting a combined 26 Grand Slam singles titles. Alcaraz alone has claimed four, including victories at this year’s French Open in June and Wimbledon in July.
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