Carlos Alcaraz makes telling Rafael Nadal admission after Olympics debut

He may be tennis’s top male player and a four-time Grand Slam champion, but Carlos Alcaraz was still riddled with nerves ahead of his Olympic Games debut. Alcaraz launched his blockbuster partnership with Rafael Nadal in style with victory over sixth seeds Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni at Roland Garros, where he won the French Open only last month.

Fresh from his starring role at the opening ceremony, Nadal was back doing what he does best on the stage he knows so well as he and Alcaraz claimed a 7-6 (4) 6-4 first-round victory in the men’s doubles. The illustrious Spanish pair made a slow start to the second set but clawed their way back from 0-3 down.

It was the two-time Wimbledon champion’s thumping return that earned his team the crucial break for 5-4, and Nadal comfortably served out the victory. The victory will have helped settle the nerves of Alcaraz, who candidly confessed how tense he was before the match, although not so much by the prospect of playing alongside a legend of the game like Nadal.

"It wasn't Rafa himself that was imposing on me, but the situation,” he said. “In the end, seeing the Philippe Chatrier stadium full, playing with Rafa, my first Olympics... It was a moment, I'll say, that was difficult to deal with the nerves.”

However, it was also a dream moment that the 21-year-old will cherish forever. He said: “It was a dream come true, honestly. I dreamed about playing my debut in the Olympic Games, but playing with Rafa, it was even more special.

“I’m really happy about the level we played, I’m really happy to give us the chance to keep going, to play another round. I think our level is good enough to believe and hopefully keep going.”

Nadal, 38, played with strapping on his right thigh and there were question marks over whether the 14-time French Open champion would contest his scheduled singles match against Marton Fucsovics today (Sunday). He hit out the timing of his first round match, coming so soon after his doubles opener, which concluded on Saturday night.

"A 2pm game? I don’t understand the schedule. It seems outrageous to me when I’m playing at 2pm," he fumed.

He added: "I don’t know if I’ll play tomorrow. I’ll have to go back to the village and talk to the team, I’ll make the decision that I think is most appropriate to have a chance of getting results for Spain. Sometimes less is more.”