When Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz go to have dinner at one of the restaurants in the Parisian Olympic Village, if they agree to meet their teammates at nine, they end up sitting at the table at ten. The times for the big stars stretch out because other athletes stop them to take photos or talk to them. The two Spanish tennis players are one of the main attractions of the Olympic Village at these 2024 Paris Games.
This space built in Saint Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, has been hosting a large part of the over 10,000 participating athletes for days. Among the world sports stars who will be in the city these weeks are Nadal and Alcaraz. Both "generate such incredible excitement in the village that we end up having dinner late because many athletes want to greet them." This is recounted by David Ferrer, captain of the tennis team in a joint press conference, the first of the Spanish team at these Games, on Wednesday morning.
An example of the attention these two tennis players attract is that, when the press conference ends, they take longer to leave because several coaches want to take photos with them. "The impact that tennis has on sports and society is evident with Rafa and Carlos, it's true that dinners run late, but people look at them with great admiration and that is a source of pride for us," reiterates Anabel Medina, captain of the women's team.
These are Nadal's last Olympic Games, Alcaraz's first, and there is much anticipation to see the two stars play together in doubles. "We are going to give our maximum effort, although we have not been able to prepare together for a tournament like this, where there are other pairs who have been able to prepare," said Nadal. "We trust in Carlos' good form and that I reach the level I need. Within the little time we have, we will train as much as possible," he pointed out.
"I understand the curiosity and excitement of seeing us play together, but let's not think that translates into success. In the end, Carlos hasn't played much doubles and I haven't played much in doubles or many singles," Nadal stated.
The tennis player from Manacor is a legend in France, where he has won 14 Roland Garros titles. Alcaraz, the reigning champion of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, is also already, at 21 years old, one of the most sought-after athletes. Nadal has stated that these Games are an opportunity to get to know each other better: "Being close to Carlos rejuvenates me, because you remember the energy you had when you were 20 and you discover everything again."
The team arrived at the Olympic Village this week, where the rest of the athletes have also been arriving gradually. They sleep in shared apartments, which, as they have pointed out, "creates a special atmosphere." "It's a different experience, and that's something that the Olympic Games give you, that coexistence, that's what makes this competition different from a Roland Garros," Nadal said. "I was really looking forward to living this experience, living in the village with the other athletes. I don't feel like I'm playing alone, but for a whole country," Alcaraz said.
Tennis starts on Saturday at Roland Garros, right after the opening ceremony on Friday. It is played on clay for the first time since Barcelona 92. These Paris Games are Nadal's fourth since his debut in Athens 2004. He missed London 2012 and Tokyo 2021 due to injury. He was the individual champion at the Beijing 2008 Games and in doubles, alongside Marc López, at the Rio 2018 Games.
These Games, as he has said, "are among the most special," as he plays on the ground where he has been the king for so long. "To be here, I have had to go through many difficult moments (...) I have the prize, which is to experience a few more Games in a setting that is very special to me and to share with my teammates in these last games."