'If we're both fit enough, why not?' Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal reaffirm Paris Olympic doubles hopes in Madrid

Will they or won't they? The conversation surrounding a potential Olympic doubles partnership between Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal is heating up again this week at the Mutua Madrid Open.

Last year, while Nadal was on the sidelines after hip surgery, the younger of the two Spaniards nonetheless kicked off excited chatter amongst tennis fans about a potential partnership with the all-time great in Paris when he said it would be a "dream" for the two to compete for a medal together. In an interview with Spanish newspaper Diario AS in September, Nadal responded in kind, saying that the Olympics were a target for him in 2024, and that playing doubles with Alcaraz would be equal parts exciting and motivating for what could possibly be his final year on tour.

The landscape for both players has changed significantly since those initial comments, as both have struggled immensely with injuries in 2024: A unrelated-to-the-hip injury slowed what was supposed to be Nadal's comeback season, and an ankle sprain and arm injury have clouded portions of Alcaraz's year. But fresh hope was injected to the thought of team "Rafitos" this week when Nadal joined Iguales, the official podcast of the Mutua Madrid Open.

Not only does the 37-year-old hope to play with Alcaraz in Paris, if all is going well physically, but he would want to share the court with him at a few other tournaments to build their chemistry," he said.

"He doesn't have to ask me anything," Nadal said. "I think, all things being well, we'll play. ... I think we're both fit enough, why not? We could have the chance to form a great team and aspire to great things."

Following his 6-2, 6-1 win over Alexander Shevchenko in his opening match in Madrid, Alcaraz gave his own update: While he hasn't explicitly talked with Nadal at length about the topic yet, he agreed with the elder man's sentiments.

"It's a decision that we have to [make]," he said. "If everything is going well, we are going to do it."

But regardless of whether or not they share the court together in Paris, Alcaraz says that any one of Nadal's matches this year amounts to must-see TV.

"Every time he's going to step on the court, he's going to compete in the tournaments, I'm going to enjoy it," Alcaraz said. "I'm going to watch it and I'm going to enjoy it as much as I can. I remember watching his matches when I was growing up, and it's fantastic to share the locker room, to share the tournaments with him a little bit."