Nadal, Murray Advance in Olympic Doubles; Gauff Crashes Out
Rafael Nadal’s Olympic dream remains alive after he and teammate Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the men’s doubles quarter-finals. The Spanish duo defeated Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof in a thrilling match tie-break. Nadal, who was eliminated from the singles competition by Novak Djokovic, expressed his enjoyment playing alongside Alcaraz.
Andy Murray, in the final tournament of his career, once again displayed his resilience in doubles alongside Dan Evans. They saved match points for the second consecutive round, defeating Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen. Murray admitted to shedding “happy tears” after the emotional victory.
In the women’s draw, Coco Gauff’s Olympic journey ended in disappointment. She was defeated by Donna Vekic in a match marred by a heated argument with the umpire. Gauff accused the official of unfairness, claiming her shot was compromised by an incorrect call.
Top seed Iga Swiatek continued her impressive form, extending her winning streak on clay to 24 matches. She defeated Wang Xiyu in straight sets and will face Danielle Collins in the next round. Other notable winners included Angelique Kerber, Barbora Krejcikova, and Zheng Qinwen.
With temperatures soaring, officials implemented a heat protocol, allowing a 10-minute break between the second and third sets. Nadal, who has been plagued by injuries in recent years, said he will make a decision on his future after the Paris Games.