Rafael Nadal highlights the moment that was ‘bigger than winning a Grand Slam’ ahead of Paris Olympics

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Rafael Nadal is preparing for his final Olympic games as he partners Carlos Alcaraz in the doubles.

The King of Clay is back in Paris, with Rafael Nadal bidding for one last dance at Roland Garros before he calls time on his glittering career.

Nadal has made Court Phillippe-Chatrier his own having scooped up 14 French Open titles and only ever lost four out of 116 matches there.

As he gets ready to team up with Carlos Alcaraz in the doubles, tennis fans everywhere will watch on nervously as Nadal takes to the stage that’s historically served him so well.

Recent success at the Swedish Open saw Nadal narrowly fall at the final hurdle, losing out to Nuno Borges in straight sets.

Rafael Nadal places his Olympic Gold at the top of his trophy pile

Nadal is no stranger to the podium having amassed 22 major singles titles in career, with his last coming at Roland Garros in 2022.

Speaking ahead of the start of the Olympics on Friday, with the tennis starting a day later, Nadal told Eurosport: “It’s a great opportunity to be at the Games, the largest sporting event in the world. I appreciate being here. 

“This will be my last. I’ve missed two (London 2012 and Tokyo 2020) and it hurt me more than missing a Grand Slam,” he admitted.

“Winning Beijing in 2008 was bigger than winning a Grand Slam. You feel part of something bigger. The feeling of returning with a medal to the Villa is unforgettable.”

Nadal has won a medal at each Olympic he has played in, with success in Rio 2016 earning him a doubles silver medal.

What is Rafael Nadal’s form like coming into the Olympics?

It has been a rather bumpy 2024 for Nadal with the veteran dealing with a multitude of injuries so far.

Having started the year positively with a win against 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem in Brisbane, his ambitions of a final Australian Open campaign were dashed by a muscle injury.

A brief stint at Roland Garros saw Alexander Zverev defeat the Spaniard in the opening round, with Nadal then deciding to skip the entirety of the grass season including Wimbledon.

He comes in to the Olympics on a high however having reached his first tour final since 2022 in Sweden, perhaps giving Nadal a much-needed confidence boost ahead of his return to Paris.