"I know today is difficult" - Rafael Nadal consoles Carlos Alcaraz after Paris Olympics loss to Novak Djokovic, urges him to "appreciate" silver medal

Rafael Nadal has extended his heartfelt support to compatriot Carlos Alcaraz after the 21-year-old's devastating loss to Novak Djokovic in the final of the 2024 Paris Olympics. While Nadal acknowledged Alcaraz's heartbreak over losing out on the gold medal, he encouraged the World No. 3 to take pride in his remarkable achievement for their country.

Alcaraz aimed for two gold medals during his Olympic campaign at Roland Garros, teaming up with Nadal for men's doubles glory. Although the duo's blockbuster partnership ended in a quarterfinal loss, the 22-time Grand Slam champion motivated his compatriot to "go for gold" in singles.

"Thanks to you Carlos Alcaraz. Go for gold! We are with you," he wrote on Instagram.

Alcaraz delivered on his idol's expectations, making a remarkable run to the final, where he took on Novak Djokovic. Despite his dominant victory over Djokovic in the Wimbledon 2024 final, the 21-year-old struggled in the face of the Serb's exceptional performance in Paris.

While they were evenly matched for much of the contest, the 24-time Grand Slam champion's clinical display in the crucial moments of the match allowed him to claim a 7-6(3), 7-6(2) victory and clinch the elusive Olympic gold medal.

Following the riveting battle, Rafael Nadal congratulated Novak Djokovic on his impressive Golden Slam achievement and commiserated with Carlos Alcaraz over his loss.

Nadal acknowledged the "difficult day" for Alcaraz while also emphasizing the importance of the Olympic silver medal for Spain, suggesting that the World No. 3 would recognize the significance of his accomplishment once the disappointment faded.

"Carlos, although I know that today is a difficult day, appreciate a medal that is very important for the whole country; with time you will see that it is for you too. Thank you for this incredible week and for a medal that you give to Spanish sport," Nadal posed on his Instagram story (Translated from Spanish).

@rafaelnadal on Instagram

Carlos Alcaraz echoed a similar sentiment to Nadal in his on-court interview, sharing his intention to "enjoy lifting the silver."

"I’m pretty sure my moment will come. I will bring the gold medal to Spain one day. I’m gonna wait for that moment and work for that moment. Right now I have to enjoy lifting the silver. It’s pretty amazing as well," Carlos Alcaraz said.

Carlos Alcaraz rues "painful" loss to Novak Djokovic in Paris Olympics final: "I’m disappointed but I’ll leave the court with my head really high"

Tennis - Olympic Games Paris 2024 (Source: Getty)

In the same interview, Carlos Alcaraz reflected on his missed opportunities in the final, lamenting over his "painful" loss. Nevertheless, the World No. 3 graciously commended Novak Djokovic on his well-deserved victory, admitting that the Serb had effectively raised his level in the crucial moments of the match.

"It’s painful to lose the way I lost this match. I had my chances to probably be up in the match. I couldn’t take it. Novak was playing great. He deserves this. In the tough moments he increased his level. He played unbelievable shots.. an unbelievable game," Carlos Alcaraz said.

Although the 21-year-old conveyed his disappointment with his performance, he also took pride in his efforts to bring home the gold for Spain.

"I’m a bit disappointed but honestly I’ll leave the court with my head really really high. I gave everything I had. Fighting for Spain was everything to me. I’m proud with the way I played today," he added.

With his impressive win over Carlos Alcaraz in the Paris Olympics final, Djokovic has regained the upper hand in their rivalry, enjoying a 4-3 lead in their head-to-head record.