Nadalcaras also knows how to win through suffering and is already one game away from fighting for medals

RAfa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz have reached the quarterfinals of the men’s doubles tournament at the Paris Olympics and are now just one step away from a medal fight. “Nadalcaraz” defeated Dutchmen Wesley Koolhof and Tallon Griekspoor, who yesterday he lost to the Murcian in the individual bracket– 6-4, 6-7(2) and 10-2 in 2 hours 24 minutes of play.

The duel took place on the Suzanne Lenglen, the second most important court in the French capital’s tennis complex, which was again packed to see the two greatest attractions of these Games. Even the unbearable heat that reigns in the French capital This stopped some fans, who were again mostly with the Spanish couple.

Lots of Spanish flags in the stands some fans who realized that there is no gold more important than thisbecause it is filled with symbolism and, if achieved, will remain forever as a common thread between the two greatest geniuses our sport has produced.

Rafa and Carlos put a lot of pressure on the others from the first set, but they alternated excellent shots and even incredible volleys with the mistakes typical of tennis players not used to the doubles system.

Already in the third game they were unable to take advantage of the first two break points, but the break was noticeable in the atmosphere. We had to wait for Carlitos’ seventh forehand, which flew across the court like a rocket.

The Manacori and Murcian rage in celebrating these victories was infectious, but they still had a world to explore. So much so that the Dutch enjoyed a counter-break in the next game with Rafa serving, but Griekspoor missed the Balearic player’s second serve.

The alarm clock is off, It was Alcaraz who closed the first set with a powerful serve that sent Koolhof crashing into the net. Between sets, both Dutchmen and Nadal went to the locker room, and Carlos fought the stifling heat with cold towels. All seemed calm.

forgive and pay

The second set started as a carbon copy of the first, with the Spaniards threatening a break – they squandered a 0-30 lead in the fifth game – but without achieving the break that seemed final due to the difference in level that was visible on the track.

The difference is that if you don’t make it profitable, it can end up causing you problems, as happened to Nadalcaraz in Game 8, where Koolhof and Griekspoor had two new break points, which Carlos dealt with with two good serves..

After the panic it was a Spanish couple. two broken balls, which Griekspoor solved with four stunning serves. Everything was still up in the air, and the set was approaching its final stretch. Nadalcaras missed another break point in the eleventh game, and the Dutch went for sudden death, which Alcaras quickly called.

A back-court pass from Koolhof meant the first mini-break, which the Dutch took advantage of to shoot up the scoreboard. a work of art by Kohlhof himself in the shape of a globe. 1-4 and cross your fingers…

Carlos’ next two serves should have put the Spaniards in sudden death contention, but Carlos hit a forehand into the net (2-5). Finally, A comfortable volley from Kolhoff closed the set (2-7). We were faced with an uncertain super tie-break..

Super tiebreak between two masters

The start was superb, with Nadal making a superb return to the starting line. Lenglen celebrated his championship point with Rafa’s euphoria. In the blink of an eye, Nadalkaras won 5-0.

Each blow of the Spaniards raised the decibels of the court, in love with their idols, who decided the delicate vote in an outstanding way. Thus, the score was 9-1, so convincing that it only remained to find out when the long-awaited victory would happen.

It was after Carlos’ serve that Griekspoor crashed into the net 10-2 and Nadal, who jumped for joy before hugging his partner in crime at these GamesThe dream of all Spanish tennis lovers is still alive.

Several dangerous opponents in the quarterfinals

Their opponents in the penultimate round will be the Americans. Rajeev Ram and Austin Krycekwho had previously defeated the Brazilians in the 1/8 finals Thiago Seyboth Wild and Thiago Monteiro6-4, 7-6(3).

These are two experienced doubles players with extensive track records. Ram won the 2020 Australian Open and then completed a hat-trick of US Open titles (2021, 2022 and 2023).in addition to winning the ATP final a couple of times, always with the Briton Joe Salisbury. As for Austin Krycek, a distant relative of the Dutchman Richard Krajicekwon Roland Garros 2023 with Croatian Ivan Dodig.