Carlos Alcaraz is making his debut at the Olympic Games this year, but unfortunately, he won’t be able to attend his first opening ceremony. Although he was a rising star in 2021 and had the potential to compete in the Tokyo Olympics, he wasn’t established enough on the ATP Tour to qualify at that time.
Fast forward three years, and Alcaraz not only secured his spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics but also earned the prestigious position of the second seed in the tournament. His recent victory at Roland Garros has bolstered his reputation as a leading contender for the gold medal, making him one of the biggest favorites to claim the top prize for Spain.
In the singles draw, the 21-year-old faces Hady Habib from Lebanon in the first round. Habib, ranked 275th in the world, is a significant underdog, making Alcaraz a heavy favorite to advance. Additionally, Alcaraz will compete in the doubles event alongside Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal. Their first-round opponents will be the sixth-seeded Argentinian team of Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni.
The opening ceremony of the Olympics is set to begin at 19:30 CEST local time on Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris. Despite his enthusiasm to participate in this iconic event, Alcaraz announced via social media that he will miss it due to his busy schedule.
Alcaraz is scheduled to play both his singles and doubles matches on the first day of the tennis tournament, Saturday, July 27, 2024. His singles match is slated as the second match of the day at Court Suzanne-Lenglen, following a match between Italy’s Jasmine Paolini and Ana Bogdan from Romania. This singles match is expected to start around 14:00 CEST local time. Immediately after, Alcaraz will head to Court Philippe-Chatrier for his doubles match, which is planned to begin approximately five hours later.
In his social media update, Alcaraz expressed his regret about missing the opening ceremony, stating that he was looking forward to it but recognized the importance of resting and preparing for his matches. “I was very excited to be able to go to the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics today with Spain, but tomorrow I have two games and it is advisable to rest and be ready! This begins!” he wrote.
Given the demanding schedule and his focus on competing for a medal, Alcaraz’s decision to skip the ceremony is a practical one, ensuring he is well-prepared for the challenges ahead.
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