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<\/p>\nCarlos Alcaraz will try his best to represent Spain at the 2024 Olympic Games and play alongside compatriot Rafael Nadal\u00a0– but both men will need to submit an appeal. Next year\u2019s Paris Games will be the first for the 20-year-old and it will likely be the last of the 22-time Grand Slam champion\u2019s illustrious career.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
There is even more incentive for Nadal, as the tennis event at Paris 2024 will be held on his beloved clay courts at Roland Garros. However, both players are unable to be selected for the Olympics as they have failed to meet the usual criteria to represent their country.<\/p>\n
During a conversation with El Universal, Alcaraz says he will do all he can to achieve his dream of competing at the Olympic Games. \u201cIt is going to be a demanding year, it is a little more special having the Olympics,\u201d the Wimbledon champion said. I really want to play. Trying to bring a medal to my country is what I would like the most and we are going to work to achieve it.”<\/p>\n
To be able to compete at the Olympics, a player must have represented their country\u2019s Davis Cup team on at least two separate occasions in the Olympic Cycle. For the Paris Games one of these must come in 2023 or 2024.<\/p>\n
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The 2023 Davis Cup competition concluded on Sunday as Italy won the prestigious team event for the first time since 1976. Nadal has not played since the 2019 Davis Cup and Alcaraz last featured in the event in 2022.<\/p>\n
Spain will not feature in the tournament again until September 2024 after receiving a wildcard into the group stage. Therefore, Nadal and Alcaraz have no other opportunities to appear in the competition again until after the 2024 Olympics.<\/p>\n
All hope is not lost, though, for the Spanish duo can write a letter of appeal to the ITF pleading their respective cases to be allowed to play for Spain at the next Olympics. Nadal has not played any tennis since January due to a hip injury and he had surgery to fix the issue back in June.<\/p>\n
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