By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Rafael Nadal will partner Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s doubles at the Paris Olympics, the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation has confirmed.
The tennis will be played on clay at Roland Garros – home of the French Open – where 21-year-old, Alcaraz was victorius last week, securing his third Grand Slam title.
Nadal, 38, is a 22-time major winner, with a record 14 championships coming at Roland Garros.
The Games begin on 26 July with the tennis tournaments starting a day later.
“One pair, which I think everyone knows and was hoping for, is Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal,” said Spain’s national team coach, David Ferrer.
“Rafa and Carlos will be playing together in Paris.”
It was also confirmed that Nadal will miss the grass-court season, including Wimbledon, to prioritise the Olympics, as he suggested he would after falling to a first-round exit at the French Open last month
Nadal won an Olympic gold at Beijing in 2008, but Alcaraz will be making his Games debut.
Nadal’s participation at the Games was uncertain after a series of injuries this year, but he returned to action for the clay court season in April. The Paris Games are likely to be his last, with the Spaniard considering retirement this season.