Spain’s tennis stars, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Olympic men’s doubles at Roland Garros with a 6-4, 6-7, 10-2 victory over the Dutch team of Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof on Tuesday.
Nadal Bounces Back After Singles Defeat
Just a day after Nadal suffered a heavy loss to Novak Djokovic in the singles, the 38-year-old showcased his resilience with a strong performance alongside Alcaraz. The dynamic Spanish duo, affectionately known as “Nadalcraz,” thrilled the crowd on a hot Court Suzanne Lenglen with their impressive play.
Match Highlights
Alcaraz delivered a crucial forehand winner to break serve in the first set, eliciting cheers from Nadal. Despite a strong resistance from Koolhof and Griekspoor, who won the second set tiebreak 7-2, Nadal and Alcaraz dominated the final set with a series of powerful shots.
Nadal and Alcaraz’s Synergy
Nadal, a former Olympic gold medalist in doubles from Rio 2016, and Alcaraz displayed excellent chemistry and high energy throughout the match. Nadal praised their off-court relationship as a key factor in their on-court success.
Looking Ahead
Nadal and Alcaraz will face American fourth seeds Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek in the quarter-finals on Wednesday evening. Earlier in the day, Alcaraz will compete in the singles against Russian Roman Safiullin, who is competing as a neutral athlete.
