"Like Lionel Messi & Lamine Yamal in the same team" - Fans impressed by "dream duo" Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz's doubles 1R win at Paris Olympics

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz combined to devastating effect to win their opening round men's doubles match at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday, July 27. The unseeded Spaniards defeated the Argentine duo of Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni, the No. 6 seeds, 7-6(4), 6-4. The result drew reactions from several fans, who were spellbound by what they saw unfold at Roland Garros.

Nadal and Alcaraz had not played a competitive doubles match as a collective prior to the 2024 Paris Olympics. As a result, there were lingering doubts over how the pair would perform, despite their seemingly incredible combination on paper. The doubts particularly reached fever pitch after Nadal complained of discomfort in his legs during training in the buildup to the Games.

However, the Spaniards put all those doubts to the sword as they synced to perfection, comfortably beating the seeded Argentines after getting off to a rusty start.

Nadal, who won the gold medal at the 2016 Olympics alongside Marc Lopez, showed his immense wealth of experience, while Alcaraz seemed to be carrying on where he left off at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, where he made short work of Novak Djokovic in the final.

One set of fans on X (formerly Twitter) suggested that the pair, despite being unseeded, already look like they will be going the distance.

A fan from this particular set also likened 'Nadalcaraz' to heavyweight young-and-old combinations from other sports; Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal (soccer), LeBron James and Victor Wembanyama (basketball), and Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes (American football).

"Despite all the photos, coverage and hype people are still failing to grasp the magnitude of this link-up.It is like Messi and Yamal, LeBron and Wembanyama, or Brady and Mahomes in the same team. This shouldn't be legal, but it is and we get to be the beneficiaries. Enjoy!" a fan wrote.

"They will probably win the gold medal undefeated... they are too good!" commented another fan.

"No, but realistically... how does one win against that? Rafa and Carlos? How.... how??" another fan chimed in.

Another set of fans looked forward to seeing the Spanish pair compete in the second round, turning appreciative for the tennis brilliance that the duo displayed in their first-round win.

"I seriously could cry seeing them play together. What a privilege to watch them on the same together. In the same team. Hopefully we can get as many matches as possible," wrote a fan.

"Nadalcaraz off to a great start! The dream duo gets to compete again," another fan commented.

"What a Duo," another fan weighed in.

Rafael Nadal has cast further doubt on his singles participation at Paris Olympics 2024 after doubles 1R win with Carlos Alcaraz

The 38-year-old (L) and Carlos Alcaraz (R) (Source: Getty)

Nadal's singles participation at the Olympics was already in doubt after the 22-time Major experienced an injury concern during training in the buildup to the Games. After winning the men's doubes first-round match with Alcaraz, the former World No. 1 has cast further doubt on the subject.

According to Nadal, his decision to participate in or withdraw from the singles event rests on just one factor; the chances of clinching gold for Spain. After the match, the 38-year-old said that he is open to pulling out of singles and focusing solely on doubles if it increases Spain's chances of glory at the Games.

"We are going to make the decisions that we think are most appropriate as a team to try to have the best chances of bringing medals home for the Spanish team, to try to give ourselves the chances of that happening. Sometimes more is more, sometimes more is less, but with that I'm not saying that I'm not going to play at all," Nadal said.

Nadal is set to face Marton Fucsovics in the men's singles first round on Sunday, July 28. If the Spaniard does play and manage to win, he will set up a meeting with great rival Novak Djokovic in the second round. The Serb has stated his intention to take to the court for "one last dance" with the Spaniard.