Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz’s hopes for an Olympic medal in men’s doubles were dashed by a quarter-final loss to American fourth seeds Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram. The Spanish pair, a major draw at the Roland Garros tennis event, were cheered by a packed crowd but ultimately fell to Krajicek and Ram, who claimed a 6-2, 6-4 victory.
Nadal, who has remained silent about his future, suggested this might be his farewell to Paris. He hinted he is unlikely to play in the US Open, raising doubts about the continuation of his career. When asked if he would compete in the US Open, the 38-year-old said, “It looks like not, but I’ll let you know soon. I need some time, but it looks difficult.”
Regarding his relationship with Alcaraz, Nadal expressed further uncertainty about his future. “If I were 10 years younger, we’d have a beautiful on-court relationship and share many moments together,” he said. “But that’s not going to happen. Whether I keep playing or not, I will support him from home and wish him the best. I love tennis.”
Nadal is set to play in the Laver Cup in Berlin in September, which might mark his farewell, similar to Roger Federer’s departure at the event two years ago.
Reflecting on the doubles loss, Nadal said, “It’s disappointing not to bring back a medal for Spain, but I tried my best. If this is the last time, the emotions are unforgettable.”
Meanwhile, Alcaraz remains on track for a potential gold-medal match against Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles, as both reached the quarter-finals.
Djokovic overcame Germany’s Dominik Koepfer with a 7-5, 6-3 victory, becoming the first player in the modern era to reach the singles quarter-finals at four different Olympics, though he has yet to win more than a bronze medal. “Bringing a medal to Serbia has always been a big goal since my first Olympic Games in Beijing,” said Djokovic.
Alcaraz, the youngest man since Djokovic in 2008 to reach the last eight, defeated Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-2. Djokovic will face eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas next, while Alcaraz will play American Tommy Paul in a rematch of their Wimbledon quarter-final. Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti also upset seventh seed Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-5.
In other news, three-time Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber ended her career with a heartbreaking 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (6) defeat by China’s Zheng Qinwen in the women’s quarter-finals.
