After weeks of waiting, it finally happened: Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz stood on a tennis court together at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and they won the match in two sets.
We've known for a while that the two Spaniards would be playing doubles together at the Olympic Games in Paris. It has been teased for a while, and then it was confirmed by the entry list, which is why tennis fans couldn't wait for this match.
It was special in so many ways because we're talking about a legendary player who is one of the best players of all time, teaming up with a player who is well on his way to becoming legendary.
The occasion being the Olympics just made it better, and overall, it was just one of those really memorable moments. There were some rumors that Nadal wouldn't be able to play because of an injury setback he experienced in Paris, but Alcaraz confirmed that Nadal would play, and he did.
And he played really, really well, which can't be said of Alcaraz, at least not at the start. The youngster was very nervous at the beginning of the match. It was palpable and somewhat funny because it shows how legendary Nadal is and what playing with him means for the 21-year-old.
They lost their serve early on in the match but then broke back immediately. After that, both teams were able to keep their serve without running into too many problems.
The Spanish duo was the far more aggressive team, compared to Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni, attacking repeatedly but also struggling to hit too many winners. Their fans were hopeful that things would click eventually, which was a good bet to make.
There was just an abundance of talent on that side of the net. Over time, Alcaraz and Nadal found a really nice rhythm on the serve but struggled to find a breakthrough on return.
Ultimately, the set ended up in a tie-break, which would determine many things. It was hugely important for both teams to win it. Expectedly, it was a close one, tied 3-3 after the first six points.
The Spanish team found the breakthrough first, securing a mini-break for a 4-3 lead, which became 6-3 after two held serves. Another mini-break would seal the set, which they won 7-3.
The second set didn't start that well for Nadal and Alcaraz as they quickly fell behind 3-0. What was impressive, though, is how they were able to battle back from that. They first won their own service game, and then they broke and held once more for the 3-3 scoreline.
Then, they even created a break chance but failed to use it. The break came in the next game as they took a 5-4 lead. It was a very impressive sequence from the Spaniards, who looked like a great team on the court.
Once they settled, the Spaniards looked hard to beat, winning the match 7-6(3), 6-4, advancing to the next round of the Olympic tournament.