Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz had their hopes for an Olympic medal in the men’s doubles dashed as they were defeated in the quarter-finals by the American fourth seeds, Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram. Despite being a main attraction at the tennis event at Roland Garros, the Spanish duo faced a strong challenge from Krajicek and Ram, who demonstrated their skill with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.
Speculation about Nadal’s future in tennis has been growing, with hints that this could potentially be his farewell to Paris and that he is unlikely to participate in the upcoming US Open. The 14-time French Open champion’s remarks have sparked anticipation and uncertainty about his future plans in the sport.
Additionally, Nadal’s participation in the Laver Cup in Berlin in September has raised questions about his potential retirement, especially in the wake of his longtime rival Roger Federer’s retirement from the event. The uncertainty surrounding Nadal’s future has added intrigue to the upcoming events in the tennis world.
Asked whether he would head to the United States, where events building up to the US Open are already under way, the 38-year-old said: “It looks like not but I’m going to let you know soon. For me now, I can’t give you a clear answer, I need some time. But for me it looks difficult.”
Answering a question about his relationship with Alcaraz, Nadal cast even more doubt on his future. “If my age will be 10 years less, we’re going to create a beautiful relationship on court and we’re going to share a lot of beautiful moments together,” he said.
“But that’s not going to happen. We’ll see if I keep playing the normal tour. But of course I will be supporting him from home and wishing him all the very best every single time. Even if I keep playing or not, I love tennis.”
“It was disappointing to not bring back a medal for Spain but that’s it,” said Nadal. “I tried my best in every single minute that I was on court, but it was not enough to achieve our goals. If that’s the last time, it’s an unforgettable feeling and emotions.”
On a different note, Carlos Alcaraz continued to impress as he advanced in the men’s singles, setting the stage for a potential showdown with Novak Djokovic. The young talent’s progress has been notable, and his upcoming match against American Tommy Paul carries anticipation, particularly after their Wimbledon quarter-final encounter.
Meanwhile, in the women’s quarter-finals, Angelique Kerber faced a disappointing defeat at the hands of China’s Zheng Qinwen 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (6), signaling the end of the road for the retiring three-time grand slam title winner. This outcome has brought a mix of emotions as fans acknowledge the remarkable career of Kerber while witnessing the conclusion of a significant chapter in women’s tennis.
The top seeds Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula were defeated in the second round of the doubles 2-6, 6-4, 10-5 by the Czechs Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova. However, Britain’s Katie Boulter and Heather Watson triumphed over Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia and Luisa Stefani 6-3, 6-4, securing a spot in the quarter-finals to face Italy’s No 3 seeds, Paolini and Sara Errani.
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