There has been a lot said recently about Rafael Nadal's health ahead of the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics but Carlos Alcaraz put any doubts to rest.
The 38-year-old Spaniard was reported to have suffered a setback in one of the early practices upon arriving in Paris, which was then confirmed by his coach, Carlos Moya.
He also canceled some of his practices, which further fueled the rumor about Nadal and the severity of this setback. If it was a major setback, then his participation in Paris would obviously be in doubt, but it doesn't seem like it is that significant.
Since then, Nadal has remained in Paris and practiced both alone and with Alcaraz. He also practiced with a bandage on his leg, which indicates that some sort of problem does exist.
Whether it's a major problem or just some discomfort is unknown, but Alcaraz was asked about it by the media, and he shared some really positive news about his more experienced compatriot.
According to Alcaraz, Nadal is' at his best' and fine physically, which is very good news if true. We don't know if it's true, but we won't have to wait too long to find out.
The 14-time Roland Garros winner is set to appear on the courts already on the first day of tennis action, starting in doubles with Alcaraz.
"The guy is fine, he’s at his best. He’s always fine, like always!"
The setback news was an eerie reminder for all fans about how things went earlier this year. Anytime Nadal returned to the tennis courts, he found himself struggling physically not long after that.
It happened a few times, and after he played in Bastad, including one four-hour marathon, it had bad news written all over it. The hope is that Alcaraz is correct, but ultimately, the proper test will be the matches.
Nadal himself didn't provide any updates to the media, but Spanish Team Captain David Ferrer did speak, and he told the media that he has no doubt that Nadal will show up on the courts.
"I’m sure Rafa will be in tomorrow’s doubles because he trained well today. Let’s see how he feels. The doubles requires less intensity than the singles, in which you have to be very well prepared physically and in full condition."
It's a tricky prospect to walk away from because if this was some ATP 250 tournament, then Nadal might have pulled the trigger and simply withdrew from the event. to protect his health.
However, it's the Olympics, a huge event and likely his last one. It's also played at Roland Garros, which is where he dominated over the years. It's perfect for Nadal, so having that spoiled by a physical setback would be devastating.