Olympics Doubles Upset: Nadal and Alcaraz Out of the Tournament

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz faced an unexpected defeat in the Olympics men’s doubles on Wednesday as they were eliminated by Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram. This loss possibly marks Nadal’s final appearance at Roland Garros.

In a thrilling match in Paris, France, the Spanish duo was defeated with a final score of 6-2, 6-4 by the United States’ fourth-seeded team, Krajicek and Ram. The American pair advanced to the semi-finals, overshadowing the progress of Nadal and Alcaraz, also known as “Nadalcaraz,” who had captured the attention of the audience in their previous matches.

The match started with Nadal being broken in the initial game on Court Philippe Chatrier, followed by Alcaraz losing his serve too, resulting in the US team claiming the first set.

Despite a fierce effort from the Spaniards, a crucial break in the seventh game of the second set sealed their fate. Even though they fought back in the final moments, failing to convert three break points, Krajicek and Ram secured the victory on their second match point.

Nadal, a legendary name with 14 French Open titles, expressed uncertainty about his future post his singles loss to Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros. His injuries over the years have affected his ranking, currently placing him at 161st in the world.

Meanwhile, Alcaraz remains in contention for a medal in the men’s singles event as he advances to the quarter-finals, where he is set to face US ninth seed, Tommy Paul.

AFP