Rafael Nadal highlights the first day of the Paris 2024 Olympic tennis event. The former gold medalist partners with the new star Carlos Alcaraz in a nighttime doubles match.
Nadal has been dealing with a thigh issue which makes his a question mark. But the superstar was a big part of the opening night Olympic ceremony late in event.
“I am always happy to be back in this amazing city,” said Nadal. “Roland-Garros is, as everybody knows, the most special place in the world of tennis for me. I’m just excited to have the chance to be back here. It’s another opportunity.
“This year I was not able to spend a lot of time at Roland-Garros, so I am enjoying the fact that I am back for the Olympics. The Olympics are completely different to any other event. I’m just trying to enjoy every single moment.”
Earlier in the day, Novak Djokovic opens his bid for a first gold medal. The Serb faces Australian Matthew Ebden who doesn’t even have a singles ranking anymore.
“As always, I have high hopes,” Djokovic said. “Expectations are of course there, but it’s a difficult tournament in terms of tennis. Sixty-four players, everyone is competing for a medal. It’s quite intense, we need to play six matches to win the Olympic Games in eight days, so lots of matches and intensity. Lots of players also play in different disciplines – singles, doubles, mixed doubles.
I mean, that’s definitely one of the biggest dreams and you know, approaching the Olympic Games is always a huge challenge for me, because I have put extra expectations and pressure on myself and of course the nation as well.
“And I’ve had pretty good Olympic tournaments except Rio (losing in the first round at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games). I’ve reached every tournament to the semifinals and the bronze medal match and I managed to win the bronze medal once in Beijing, but the other two times I lost in the semis and to the bronze medal. So I hope that at least I’ll get to that phase and even further. The objective is always the highest one, I’m preparing myself for that.”
The Queen of Clay, Iga Swiatek, gets things going on Philippe Chatrier. Swiatek has won the last three French Opens taking her last 21 matches.
Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Stefanos Tsitsipas are also in action plus Alcaraz who is also in singles play against former Texas A&M standout Hady Habib.
Former silver medalist Angelique Kerber begins her farewell event against fellow former No. 1 Naomi Osaka. This will be the 36-year-old Kerber’s final tournament. She is also in the doubles.
