Carlos Alcaraz has a huge responsibility at the Olympics

Carlos Alcaraz arrived in Paris for the Olympics together with his illustrious compatriot Rafael Nadal. The two Spanish champions will be among the main attractions of the Olympic tournament and play doubles together. The 21-year-old from Murcia has won the French Open and Wimbledon Championships this year, proving once again that he is the king of men’s tennis (despite being the world number 3 behind Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic).

After having some physical problems in the first part of the season, Carlitos recovered well and won the Indian Wells Masters 1000 in the spring. Alcaraz suffered a forearm injury during the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo, a hitch that forced him to skip the Masters 1000 in Rome.

Despite his poor condition, the four-time Grand Slam champion triumphed at the French Open beating Jannik Sinner in the semifinals and Sascha Zverev in the final. Carlos then won his second consecutive Wimbledon Championships title by beating Novak Djokovic in the final and becoming the youngest ever to achieve this match in the same year.

Carlitos is the big favorite

Alcaraz is the big favorite to win the gold medal on red clay at the French Open, but he will have to be very careful about Sinner, Djokovic, Zverev and Nadal. The 22-time Grand Slam champion reached the final at Bastad last week, but had to give up on a great Nuno Borges.

Carlos Alcaraz has stated repeatedly that he wants to become one of the greatest players ever and seems to have the right qualities to succeed. The former world number 1 has already won 4 Grand Slam titles and 5 Masters 1000, exceptional results for a player of just 21 years old.

During a long interview with Tennis365, Patricio Apey spoke about Alcaraz’s current status: “Look at Carlos Alcaraz, everyone loves this kid. And he is not alone. Here is a young man that plays a lightning brand of tennis. He gets up in the morning and he is humble, caring and polite to everyone. Let’s be happy he is in our sport. Jannik Sinner is the same. He is a lovely, lovely, lovely guy.

You have got those two and we don’t know if they are ready to replace Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. Will either of them be as good as Djokovic and win as many trophies as him? It’s doubtful, but that will be decided over the next 65 Slams. What we have now is different. The new guys are dynamic, they can be controversial and there is always space for different actors in any good film.”

Alcaraz and Nadal together

Alcaraz and Nadal will try to win a medal in doubles. The two Spanish champions will train together this week to find the right feeling.

“I am very excited to be part of the Olympic team and represent Spain,” Rafa stated. “It is the most important event in sport and I hope to find the energy and train well. I know that if I can produce good tennis in singles, it will also be in doubles – but I have to analyse what happened this week and work hard. I am convinced that Carlos Alcaraz is going to be at a very good level because he arrives with confidence. We will train together this week.”

Carlitos is ready for the challenge: “I’m not nervous right now. When the time comes, I will be. And yes, obviously, he’s already experienced this, he already knows what it’s like to play in the Olympics, to win a gold in both singles and doubles. I’m new, I’m the rookie here, so I have to keep my mouth shut and just listen to him.

I am going to go for the title, I am going to go just thinking that I will able to win it, that’s my goal to bring a medal to my country, hopefully the gold medal. And obviously, the doubles with Rafa is going to be a really dream moment for me. Obviously, we will try to bring home the gold medal again.”

The Olympic tournament will be played from 27th July to 4th August on the red clay of the French Open, while the draw ceremony will take place on Thursday 25th July. Matches will be played at the best of three sets except for the final, which will be at the best of five sets.

The bookmakers consider Alcaraz as the main favorite ahead of Sinner, Djokovic, Zverev and Nadal. The Spaniard will play on his best surface, where he won the French Open this year, but Jannik has already shown that he can be very competitive in best of three sets matches.