Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz are dreaming of a medal in the doubles tennis competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This Tuesday, they will play their round of 16 match against the Dutch duo Griekspoor and Koolhof.
The difference between a great singles player and a great doubles player lies in one detail: the ability to synchronize with their partner on the court so well that they appear as one. Rafael Nadal is no stranger to this requirement in doubles. The Mallorcan has a long history in doubles, participating in professional tournaments since 2002/2003, and has played with more than 30 partners.
Nadal has not only been a guarantee of success in singles but also has a doubles record boasting 11 titles, including a memorable Olympic gold in Rio 2016 alongside Marc López, one of his most loyal partners on the court.
Marc López (106th in Singles), A Doubles Success Guarantee
The Catalan, who retired in 2022 in a match where his partner was Carlos Alcaraz, was part of one of Nadal’s last Olympic and doubles successes with their victory in Rio 2016 against the Romanian pair Mergea-Tecău. Marc is one of the players with the most doubles tournaments alongside Nadal, participating in about 19 tournaments together.
Among other memorable participations with Nadal, Marc has won a couple of Indian Wells (2010, 2012) and Doha (2009, 2011), all on hard courts. Notably, in the 2010 Indian Wells, they faced the duo of Feliciano/Verdasco in the second round, both of whom have been Nadal’s partners in other tournaments and in the final stages of the 2011 Davis Cup.
Tommy Robredo (5th in Singles), The Marathon Man on Clay
The player from San Cugat del Vallés was another of Nadal’s frequent doubles partners, with over 15 joint participations and significant victories, such as the final in Chennai. A member of Spain’s golden tennis generation, Robredo was a great partner for Nadal on the court.
Of Nadal’s 11 doubles titles, only two have been on his favorite surface, clay. The ‘King of Clay’ finally clinched a Masters 1000 doubles title in Monte Carlo 2008, highlighted by a semifinal match against the legendary Jonas Bjorkman, former world number 1 in doubles. This journey was marked by great performances alongside Tommy, who played his last professional match in 2022.
Feliciano López (12th in Singles), The Grass Court Champion Alongside Nadal
One cannot mention the Feliciano – Nadal duo without recalling the 2019 Davis Cup. That match against Jamie Murray and Skupski, which Spain won 7-6, 7-6, sent Spain into their tenth Davis Cup final, one of the most significant doubles achievements for both players.
Another player with over 15 doubles tournament participations with Nadal, Feliciano’s matches with Nadal came with long gaps between them. The 2019 match came about four years after their last doubles participation in Germany. The memory of a young Feliciano – Rafa pair in 2005, where they played two rounds, remains significant.
With such rich histories and the synergy they bring to the court, Nadal and Alcaraz are poised to make a strong bid for Olympic gold in Paris 2024.