Olympic moment of the day: Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, tennis’ new favorite couple

Roland Garros, Paris
CNN
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after all these years, Rafael Nadal Still looking for new ways to win matches on your favorite Tennis court.

His latest win on French soil came alongside carlos alcaraz But paris olympicsAnd together they created a dream pairing – two tickets for the price of one for tennis fans and a moment that can truly only happen at the Olympics.

For nearly two hours on Court Philippe-Chatrier – the site of Nadal’s 14 French Open titles and Alcaraz’s first just last month – the crowd remained utterly devoted to the “NadalCaraz”, providing frenzied support during the Spanish pair’s 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 victory over Argentina’s Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni.

Saturday’s match was a rare opportunity to see two of the game’s biggest names, who are at opposite ends of their careers, on the same side of the net: Nadal with the experience and sheen of his 22 Grand Slam titles, and Alcaraz with his flourishing career and high-octane playing style.

The win against two experienced doubles players was by no means easy, possibly a sign that Nadal and Alcaraz have spent little time training and playing together. But it was nonetheless an entertaining introduction to tennis’s new favorite double act.

“It was an emotional night, an exciting night, an amazing crowd,” Nadal told reporters. “Playing with Carlos on this court has been very special. We are very happy with the win, because it gives us a chance to move forward.”

Nadal has already taken center stage at this year’s Olympics, having been selected as one of the final torchbearers for Friday night’s opening ceremony.

Less than 24 hours later, he took to the court and put on a different kind of performance with Alcaraz, showing his sharpness and finesse at the net. The crowd at Philippe-Chatrier chanted his name throughout the contest, and the loudest chant came when he celebrated winning match point by pumping a ball into the stands.

“Yesterday was a very emotional moment for me as well and I can’t thank Paris and France enough for giving me this honour,” Nadal said. “The emotions are still very high, so just enjoying every single moment.”

Saturday’s match began with both teams breaking each other’s serve early, leading to a tight and lengthy first set. Midway through the first set tie-break, chants of “Allez les Bleues” broke out as Nadal and Alcaraz pulled ahead as France won the rugby sevens gold medal.

He won three consecutive points to take a 6-3 lead and Nadal seized the opening with a powerful backhand return to seal the set.

The lead looked like vanishing as Gonzalez and Molteni broke Nadal to take a 3-0 lead but the Spaniard responded brilliantly, winning the next 12 points in a row to level at 3-3.

Another service break followed two games later, produced by Alcaraz with a cross-court backhand, before Nadal was able to serve for the match.

Alcaraz, 21, playing alongside one of his childhood idols, has been in scintillating form over the past two months, winning titles at the French Open and Wimbledon. He began his Olympic singles campaign by beating Lebanon’s Hady Habib 6-3, 6-1 on Saturday.

This was his first time competing at the Olympics, while Nadal hopes to add to the two gold medals he has won before – singles in 2008 and doubles in 2016. Now entering the final phase of his career, it is just as important for the 38-year-old to enjoy the experience as it is to win titles.

His All-Star partnership with Alcaraz has been formed only a few weeks ago, while Gonzalez and Molteni, who have played and won titles together several times during their long careers, provided a tough test in the opening round.

“You see Rafa with his experience and charisma,” Nadal’s coach Carlos Moya said before Saturday’s match. “And then you see Carlos, just like Rafa was when he was 20 or 21, very expressive and enthusiastic … Hopefully they will continue because it is a partnership that tennis fans can love.”

Nadal is scheduled to play against Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics on Sunday, even though uncertainty remains over whether he will feature in the singles draw. If he does, he could face Novak Djokovic in the second round, and he was quick to respond when asked if he was ready for the last dance against his great rival.

He promptly responded, “Who said last dance?” And who can blame him when he’s still winning on his favorite court, and that too with thousands of fans cheering?