Olympic silver medalist calls for Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz to be disqualified
American Olympic silver medalist Mardy Fish called for Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz to be disqualified at the Paris 2024 Games after their first-round doubles victory.
The Spanish duo lived up to their billing on a packed Court Philippe Chatrier, claiming a 7-6(4) 6-4 win over Argentinians Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni
Their partnership quickly came together to dispatch the sixth seeds at Roland Garros, even though Nadal was spotted with strapping on his right thigh. The Spaniards quickly showed that they will take some stopping from taking gold, prompting Fish to speak out on their quality.
Fish joked that it was ‘unfair’ for two players of such ability to be able to compete together and immediately strike up the necessary on-court chemistry. “I declare this team as not fair,” Fish wrote on X. “Disqualify them for being too good immediately.”
Nadal, who has won 14 titles on the Paris clay and played as many as 116 matches, but had never competed in doubles at Roland Garros – even though he did win Olympic gold eight years ago with Marc Lopez.
Alcaraz is a novice in the format and his inexperience showed early in their contest, dropping serve immediately against Wimbledon quarter-finalists Gonzalez and Molteni, but the Spanish quality was more than enough to see them through.
The 21-year-old even admitted that despite being a reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, he was nervous stepping onto the court to play at the Olympics alongside Nadal.
