By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, May 26, 2023

This 2023 Roland Garros may be seen as a symbolic passing of the torch.

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World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz desires of shared Spanish mission beneath the Olympic torch.

Meeting the media at Roland Garros earlier than launching his first Grand Slam as No. 1 seed, Alcaraz shared a significant dream: Share the courtroom with hero Rafa Nadal as a Spanish doubles dream group at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The 36-year-old Nadal introduced he goals to play a 2024 farewell season.

Alcaraz stated he desires of a forming a doubles duo with Nadal, who received the 2016 Olympic doubles gold medal with Marc Lopez, now part of his teaching group.

"For me, it could be a dream playing doubles with him, you know, in the Olympics," Alcaraz advised the media in Paris. "So of course let's see. Let's see how he's doing and how he's going, you know, in this year. Hopefully, you know, he's going great.

"But yeah, for me it might be a dream to play doubles with him."

This Roland Garros marks a milestone: It is the primary time since 2004 Nadal will not be within the singles discipline and the primary time Alcaraz is prime seed.

Alcaraz stated listening to the king of clay wouldn't defend his crown made him unhappy, however he hopes for a Nadal resurgence subsequent season.

"I felt bad when I hear that Rafa, he was not able to play here in Roland Garros and probably the rest of the year," Alcaraz stated. "As a fan of tennis, as I said, as a fan, you know, I always to watch Rafa playing. I always want to watch the best players in the world playing the tournaments.

"And after all studying from them actually shut, right here within the locker rooms, , across the membership, the match for me is nice.

"When I hear that, for me, it was tough, you know, to understand how it's gonna be, you know, without Rafa this year. Hopefully to see him next year that he's 100%, hopefully."

Photo credit score: @BNP Paribas Open

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