"A legend in the making" - Ayhika Mukherjee catches up with Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in Paris

Asian Games bronze medallist Indian paddler Ayhika Mukherjee, who is currently in Paris for the quadrennial event, caught up with World No. 3 tennis player Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard, who recently clinched his fourth Grand Slam title at Wimbledon 2024, is currently training at Roland Garros in Paris for the forthcoming mega event.

Interestingly, Alcaraz will pair up with legendary tennis player Rafael Nadal for the first time in the men’s doubles event. The two Spanish players will compete together, aiming for an Olympic medal for Spain.

“A legend in the making. Pleasure to meet @carlitosalcarazz who is taking the tennis world by storm,” Ayhika Mukherjee wrote on Instagram.

Carlos Alcaraz has become a household name after his most recent Wimbledon 2024 title victory, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final. He has won 15 ATP Tour-level singles titles, including four Grand Slam titles and five Masters 1000 titles.

Alcaraz scripted history after becoming the youngest man to top the singles rankings at 19 years, four months, and six days old, the first male teenager in the Open Era to achieve so.

Notably, Alcaraz won four Grand Slam singles titles - the US Open in 2022, Wimbledon in 2023, 2024, and the French Open in 2024.

Ayhika Mukherjee to be reserve player in the Indian team for the Paris 2024 Olympics

Hailing from Naihati, West Bengal, Ayhika Mukherjee will participate in the women’s doubles event as a reserve player at the Paris Olympics 2024. Although she will not be a part of the Athletes Village, she will called up when there is a risk of injury in the main squad.

Ayhika was part of the Asian Games in 2018 and 2023. In the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China, she along with Sutirtha Mukherjee defeated Chinese champion pair Chen Meng and Wang Yidi in the quarterfinals to bag the historic bronze medal for India. The Indians bowed out of the campaign after losing to North Korea’s Cha Su Yong and Pak Su Gyong.

Later in 2024, Ayhika defeated World No. 1 from China, Sun Yingsha in the World Table Tennis Team Championships to steal the limelight.