Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal’s combination at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games is one of the most hotly-anticipated collaborations in tennis history.
After all, the storylines intertwined within their partnership are endless.
Two Spaniards, one a legendary veteran coming to the end of his glittering career, and the other a young pretender who is already on his own path to similar greatness.
It allows the latter to sponge up all he possibly can from the former, and the 38-year-old to enjoy one last dance with a partner who won’t mind doing most of the running.
However, there has been much speculation over one facet of their relationship, with the tennis world all asking the burning question: what will their nickname be?
Carlos Alcaraz reveals Olympics doubles nickname
For whatever reason, link-ups within the tennis world always seem to require some type of fusion between the two involved.
So whether it be a doubles partnership or a relationship, with Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas’ ‘Tsitsidosa’ the prime example of the latter, this a topic that demands huge debate.
But, seeking to put an end to that, Carlos Alcaraz spoke to Eurosport to confirm what their official nickname would be.
He laughed as he agreed that ‘Nadalcaraz’ had a nice ring to it, before claiming: ‘Nadal always has to go first.’ His humility knows no bounds.
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal, a legendary partnership
Although this duo has no experience playing doubles together, their respective qualities should prove enough to at least carry them deep into the Olympics competition.
After all, Rafael Nadal’s performances in Bastad alongside Casper Ruud, a player far inferior to Alcaraz, showed enough signs to excite fans.
With a more energetic and explosive teammate, who is capable of placing the ball wherever he pleases, this star-studded fusion might actually be able to trouble even those who specialise in this particular area of the sport.
This doubles team, between them, has a combined age of 59 and a combined tally of 26 Grand Slam titles. Not only that, but Nadal already has Olympic gold under his belt, one of which was actually won in a doubles event too.
He may be older, but there is every chance that his experience and quality, blended with the youthful majesty of Alcaraz, could be enough to carry them through to the latter stages in Paris.
Nadal has sent a warning to fans though ahead of the Olympics, in an effort to alleviate the pressure.
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