PARIS — When it was over, when Rafael Nadal’s Paris Video games — and doubtlessly his Olympic profession — ended with a doubles loss in a stadium central to his legacy, he soaked within the applause accompanying his exit from the pink clay.
Was this 6-2, 6-4 defeat alongside Carlos Alcaraz to the fourth-seeded American duo of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram truly Nadal’s final match at Roland Garros?
“Possibly,” Nadal stated later within the night. “I do not know.”
After accumulating his tools from the sideline, the 38-year-old Spaniard appeared across the stadium the place he gained the French Open 14 occasions and waved to the spectators, who have been bidding adieu with the newest in a collection of standing ovations for him throughout these Olympics. Nadal paused earlier than stepping by the doorway that leads towards the locker room, and Alcaraz positioned his proper hand on his associate’s left shoulder.
“If that is the final time (right here) for me, it is an unforgettable feeling and feelings,” Nadal stated. “They provide me the love and assist each single second that I’ve been on court docket,” Nadal stated in regards to the spectators, who clapped and yelled and sang for him all through the quarterfinal match.
“It is tremendous, tremendous particular to really feel that, notably on this place. So I am unable to actually thank all of them sufficient for giving me the emotions I’ve inside myself and the feelings they make me really feel. I do not know what is going on to occur sooner or later, but when that is the final time, I loved it.”
The match was performed at Court docket Philippe Chatrier, the place he gathered greater than half of his 22 Grand Slam trophies.
“For me,” Ram stated, “Rafa at Roland Garros is the final word.”
Nadal has not introduced something a couple of attainable retirement, however given his age and up to date historical past of accidents — together with hip surgical procedure in 2023 — he stated Wednesday he doubts he’ll compete within the U.S. Open, which begins in late August.
“I want a while (to resolve), however for me, (it) appears to be like tough,” Nadal stated.
He gained gold medals for Spain in singles at Beijing in 2008 and in doubles at Rio de Janeiro in 2016. This time round, he was defeated in singles Monday by rival Novak Djokovic.
When Krajiceck served out the victory, Alcaraz and Nadal hugged on one aspect of the web — and the People did the identical on the opposite aspect.
“It was an unbelievable expertise for me. It is one thing I’ll always remember, that is for positive — taking part in on the identical aspect of the web (as) Rafa,” Alcaraz stated. “I attempted to take pleasure in each single second that we performed collectively.”
Nadal and Alcaraz usually are not frequent doubles gamers — certainly, this was their first occasion collectively.
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They do, nevertheless, personal a mixed 26 Grand Slam singles titles. Alcaraz has 4, together with this yr’s French Open in June, then Wimbledon in July.
“I am just a little upset proper now,” Alcaraz stated. “Clearly we needed to maintain going. We needed to get the win and provides us an opportunity to combat for a medal.”
Ram and Krajicek are much more completed in doubles. Each have been ranked No. 1. Ram has collected 4 Grand Slam titles in males’s doubles with one other associate and Krajicek one.
Nadal is as widespread a participant who ever has competed at Roland Garros. So widespread that there’s a metal statue of him that stands simply outdoors Chatrier.
It was in that area that he was handed these 14 French Open trophies. And in that area that he misplaced to rival Djokovic on Monday.
Nobody is aware of whether or not he ever will return and play there once more.
“At this stage of my profession, I play for emotions,” he stated. “I play for feelings, greater than for outcomes.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
