Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz Exit Paris Games

Rafael Nadal's participation in the Paris 2024 Olympics, and likely his Olympic career, concluded with a quarterfinal loss in men's doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz, falling to American pair Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram with a score of 6-2, 6-4. The match took place at Court Philippe Chatrier, where Nadal has celebrated many victories, including 14 French Open titles. Despite the enthusiastic support from the crowd, Nadal and Alcaraz were unable to capitalize on crucial points, particularly after a disputed call upheld by the chair umpire. At 38 years old and with his history of injuries, Nadal's future in tennis beyond the Paris Games is uncertain, and a return for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics seems unlikely. Previously, Nadal won gold medals for Spain in singles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and in doubles at the 2016 Rio Games, but this time he was also defeated in singles by Novak Djokovic earlier in the week. The defeat marked the first time Nadal and Alcaraz played doubles together, highlighting the experience of their opponents.