Rafael Nadal ended his 2024 Paris Olympics experience with a loss in the doubles together with Carlos Alcaraz and he provided some updates on his plans after the match.
The two Spaniards seemed like a pairing that could go far in the Olympic doubles tournament, but they lost in the quarter-finals. They did well early on, beating two solid pairings, but ultimately wouldn't advance past the quarter-final because they were beaten by Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek.
The match wasn't very good from Nadal and Alcaraz as they were comfortably beaten in two sets. It ended Nadal's final Olympic Games campaign because Novak Djokovic had already eliminated him in the singles.
It was a bittersweet moment for the 38-year-old Spaniard, who hoped this wasn't the last time he played in Paris. Whether he comes back to Roland Garros next year or not remains to be seen, as does whether he will travel to the United States for the US Open.
Reporters were keen to find out if Nadal intended to play at that event, and the 22-time major winner provided an update, albeit in a typically uncertain, vague way.
He said he hasn't decided yet, but as things stand now, it doesn't look very likely that he will be travelling to the United States for the last major of the season.
"Looks like not but I’m gonna let you know soon. For me, now, I can’t give you a clear answer, I need some time. But for me, looks difficult."
He then also reflected on his Olympics experience, which was pleasant overall because the fans embraced him warmly and backed him in every match he played. The way the crowd erupted in cheers when the Spaniard broke back against Djokovic showed the world just how heavily they were supporting him, and those are the types of moments that players don't forget.
Having his last Olympics in Paris on the Roland Garros courts made everything that much better for him. It's a special moment, and he wouldn't want to have it any other way.
"Maybe. I think if that’s the last time, for me, it’s an unforgettable feeling and emotions. They give me the love and the support every single second that I have been on court."
"For me it’s super, super special to feel that in particular in this place so I can’t really thank enough all of them for giving me the feeling that I have inside myself and the emotions that they make me feel. So I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future but if that’s the last time I enjoyed it."
Nobody, including Nadal, knows what the future holds, but fans will be hoping to see him back on the courts, whether that ends up being somewhere in the United States or possibly later this year in Europe.
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