Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz named in Spain Paris Olympics team

French Open champions Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal have been named in the Spain team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Spanish tennis federation (RFET) announced on Wednesday.

World number two Alcaraz last weekend won his first Roland Garros title on the clay in Paris, where the Olympic tournament will take place from July 27 to August 4.

Nadal boasts 22 Grand Slam victories, including a record 14 French Open titles, but only returned to competition last April after missing the best part of 16 months through injury and is currently ranked 264th in the world.

In addition to the singles tournament, Alcaraz, 21, and Nadal, 38, may also take part in the Games’ doubles event.

The Spanish men’s squad is completed by world number 32 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Pablo Carreno Busta and number two-ranked doubles player Marcel Granollers.

Spain have a chance of winning ‘2-3 tennis medals’

On the women’s side, Spanish number one Sara Sorribes and world number 67 Cristina Bucsa have been included in the team.

Injury-plagued former world number two Paula Badosa – now ranked 118 – was not included in the squad for Paris.

“We have the chance of winning two or three medals (at the Olympics),” said RFET president Miguel Diaz Roman.

All national federations must produce their final list for the Games by June 19 at the latest.

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse