PARIS: Rafael Nadal said he was “suffering” but “having fun” alongside Carlos Alcaraz after Spain’s dream team reached the men’s doubles quarter-finals at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.
The pair, nicknamed “Nadalcaraz”, defeated Dutch rivals Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof in their second-round match at Roland Garros, winning 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 10-2.
A packed crowd at Court Suzanne Lenglen made no secret of her support for the Spaniards, regularly chanting: “Let’s go Rafa, let’s go”.
“We had fun because in the (match) tie-break the score was positive,” said Nadal, who is chasing his third Olympic gold.
“We suffer, but we enjoy playing together, we create good synergies, good energy, so yeah, we generally have fun.
“We have a positive relationship off the court that helps on (the court).”
Nadal, 38, said the transition to doubles tennis was difficult for the singles specialist.
“We’re not used to playing doubles, so the only way to do well is to play with joy, with energy, with high energy,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to do.”
The red-shirted Nadal was knocked out of his singles match by Novak Djokovic on Monday but appeared alongside his 21-year-old team-mate 24 hours later to loud applause from an expectant crowd.
The Spaniards regularly put their opponents under pressure to serve in the opening set and finally broke in the seventh game when Alcaraz ripped a forehand cross-court winner. French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz served as the Spaniards wrapped up the set 6-4 in 54 minutes.
