Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal are knocked OUT of the Paris Olympics

Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal have been knocked out of the men’s tennis doubles in the Paris Olympics after losing to Team USA.

The Spanish pairing had been a duo of the past and present of tennis, with the once-clay King Nadal partnering with the two-time Wimbledon winner 17 years his junior in a bid to make history.

But it was one step too far for the pair on Wednesday evening as they lost in straight sets to Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, as they fell to a 6-2, 6-4 loss to the fourth-seeded duo of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram.

Tennis lovers had hoped that there was a possibility that Spain could end up meeting Team GB‘s Andy Murray and Dan Evans in the final of the competition.

Murray and Evans are writing their own story and will be back in action on Thursday, but the end of Nadal’s career was drawn a step closer on Wednesday following defeat.

Carlos Alcaraz (right) and Rafael Nadal (left) have been knocked out of the Paris Olympics

The Spanish duo fell short at the quarter-final stage after putting on a show for the fans

Nadal is unlikely to compete in an Olympics again and embraced partner Alcaraz post-game 

After the final serve of the game was checked to be legal, Nadal pulled Alcaraz back and embraced his team-mate, likely to thank him for the journey the two had been on in Nadal’s final Olympics.

There is plenty more for Alcaraz to offer. Just 21, he is one of the most talented youngsters the game has ever seen, and, though the Olympics did not feature the two playing against each other, the hug felt like a passing of the torch moment.

The crowd were on their feet at every break point saved, their heads in their hands as the game was confirmed done.

The match was played at Court Philippe Chatrier, the same stadium where Nadal has won his record 14 French Open titles, part of his haul of 22 Grand Slam trophies. The full house roared and sang to support Nadal and Alcaraz – well, mainly Nadal – especially as they tried to stave off defeat in the final game.

The 38-year-old Nadal has not announced anything about his plans or possible retirement, but given his age and recent history of injuries, an appearance at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics seems far-fetched. He might not even compete at all beyond the Paris Games, but that is far less clear.

Nadal won gold medals for Spain in singles at Beijing in 2008 and in doubles at Rio de Janeiro in 2016. This time around, he was defeated in singles on Monday by rival Novak Djokovic.

The doubles outcome seemed pretty much decided when Ram smacked a return winner off a serve by Alcaraz to break him at love and lead 4-3 in the second set. The Spaniards thought the ball landed out and bent down to get closer to the clay while arguing their case with French chair umpire Morgane Lara. But the call did not change. And soon, Krajicek was serving to close it out.

Still, Nadal never has been one to concede a thing, and so it was fitting that he and Alcaraz earned a break point there, a chance to extend the evening. It didn’t happen, though, and soon Alcaraz and Nadal were hugging on one side of the net – and Ram and Krajicek were doing the same on the other.

After collecting his equipment from the sideline, Nadal walked off the court. He paused to look around the place that has meant so much to him during his time in tennis and to wave to the spectators, who were bidding adieu with the latest in a series of standing ovations for him during these Olympics.

Nadal paused for a moment before stepping through the doorway that leads toward the locker room, and Alcaraz placed his right hand on his partner’s left shoulder.

Team USA’s Austin Krajicek (left) and Rajeev Ram (right), meanwhile, are in the last four

Nadal took in the atmosphere as he left the court, not knowing if – or when – he will be back

Nadal and Alcaraz are not frequent doubles players – indeed, this was their first event as a pair.

They do, however, own a combined 26 Grand Slam singles titles. Alcaraz has four, including this year’s French Open in June, then Wimbledon in July.

Ram and Krajicek are far more accomplished in doubles. Both have been ranked No 1. Ram has collected four Grand Slam titles in men’s doubles with another partner and Krajicek one.

They also had pretty decent coaching advice Wednesday night: Sitting in the stands were Bob and Mike Bryan, the American twins who earned 16 Grand Slam doubles championships and an Olympic gold medal in men’s doubles at the 2012 London Games. Bob is the captain of the U.S. men’s tennis squad in Paris.