Former American tennis star Mardy Fish has joked why he feels Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal should be ‘disqualified’ from the Olympics doubles draw.
All eyes are on the doubles draw in Paris with Nadal joining forces with rising superstar Alcaraz to create a formidable pairing for Spain.
Nadal has already won two gold medals previously in his career while Alcaraz is making his Olympic debut.
While the duo are inexperienced as a pairing, their undeniable talents ultimately helped them secure a famous win in the opening round against experienced opposition.
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz won their opening match
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The Spanish duo pulled off a straight-sets win over the No 6 seeds and will face Dutch duo Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof next.
Their victory over the weekend caused a stir online with fans delighted at seeing Alcaraz and Nadal on court together.
However, former Olympic silver medalist Fish has joked that Nadal and Alcaraz are just too good to be allowed into the doubles draw.
“I declare this team as not fair,” Fish wrote on X.
“Disqualify them for being too good immediately.”
Andy Murray is also in the doubles draw with Dan Evans as the British pair pulled off a miraculous comeback after facing five match points to win their first-round match.
For Nadal, the doubles represent his only chance of a medal after he lost to long-time rival Novak Djokovic in the singles.
Speaking after the match, Nadal admitted that he’s already switched his focus to the doubles alongside Alcaraz.
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz are back in action on Tuesday
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He said: “Today I’m sad, but tomorrow I’m going to get up with all the enthusiasm in the world to play doubles to the fullest.”
Nadal came back from 4-0 down in the second set to threaten a comeback against Djokovic but he wasn’t able to carry that momentum forward.
The 38-year-old suggested he didn’t trust his body enough to put 100 per cent in trying to pull off an unlikely comeback against Djokovic.
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“The problem is that it came from very far back,” he said.
“The dynamic has changed because I have managed to win four games in a row and I have had a chance.
“Maybe so many things have happened to my body in recent times that I have lost confidence and the rhythm of the game in general.
“I just have to accept it and play to the death for the doubles.”
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