World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz said he is looking forward to learning from 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal when they pair up to play doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Alcaraz, 21, will return to Roland Garros for the singles and doubles tournaments on the heels of being crowned French Open champion there earlier this month.
Nadal won Olympic singles gold in 2008 and doubles gold in 2016. The 38-year-old will be participating in the Games for a third time.
“I didn’t expect to play doubles at the Olympic Games with Rafa,” Alcaraz, a three-time Grand Slam champion, told reporters Monday. “It is a unique moment for me but of course I am very happy about it. … It’s going to be a great time.
“Honestly, I feel he is going to teach me how to deal with everything. I am the young guy who needs to grow up as a player, to grow up as a person as well.”
Alcaraz acknowledged that this being his first Olympics, “Everything is new for me, so I hope to learn a lot from him.”
Nadal is skipping Wimbledon in July in order to prepare for the Olympics, while Alcaraz returns to action at the Queen’s Club Championships in London later Tuesday before starting his title defense at Wimbledon next month.
The Olympic tennis tournament runs from July 27 to Aug. 4.
Reuters contributed to this report.