Carlos Alcaraz Shows Reluctance on the Idea of Playing Mixed Doubles at the LA Olympics 2028

Carlos Alcaraz won the singles silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Carlos Alcaraz Shows Reluctance on the Idea of Playing Mixed Doubles at the LA Olympics 2028

Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

In Short
  • Carlos Alcaraz is unlikely to participate in mixed doubles at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
  • He has focused primarily on singles competitions since the last Olympics, where he reached the final.
  • Alcaraz credits his rivalry with Jannik Sinner for improving his performance on tour.

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are beginning to take shape with just two years and two months until kick-off. Carlos Alcaraz featured at the last Olympics in Paris, where he played in the doubles and singles categories. He’s aiming to compete at the 2028 Games, but not in the mixed doubles.

Alcaraz is known to play in singles tour-level competitions rather than doubles or mixed doubles events. In fact, the last time Alcaraz featured in a mixed doubles event was at the US Open last August, when he partnered with Emma Raducanu. The pair were bulldozed out of the competition after losing to Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula in straight sets.

The Spaniard has been focused on singles competitions on tour since then. However, at the 2024 Paris Olympics, he played in the doubles category, alongside his idol, Rafael Nadal. The pair managed to reach the quarter-finals before losing to eventual silver medallists Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram.

Nonetheless, it was in the singles category that Alcaraz flourished. He reached the final of the event, but failed to claim the gold medal as he lost to Novak Djokovic in straight sets at Roland Garros. Djokovic has already revealed that he aims to play at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

After receiving the Laureus Sportsman Award on Monday (April 21) in Madrid, he was asked if he would consider playing in the Los Angeles Olympics mixed doubles alongside Aryna Sabalenka. The World No.2 admitted to Marca that it is unlikely to happen at the event and he’s not yet thinking about it:

I’ve already been to the Olympics. If I hadn’t, I would have said yes. But having been there, knowing how demanding doubles and singles are… the fact that it’s only a week and a half or a week and you have to play two matches on the same day, or sometimes three if it’s mixed doubles, is too much. I remember reaching the final in Paris quite exhausted, especially mentally. It’s unlikely I’ll be able to play.

Alcaraz was supposed to open his Madrid Open campaign this week, but he pulled out of the tournament due to a wrist injury. There’s a growing belief that he might skip more tournaments ahead of the Roland Garros, which might kill any chance of reclaiming the World No.1 position after losing last week.

Carlos Alcaraz believes his rivalry with Jannik Sinner has made him a better player on tour

Carlos Alcaraz dominated the men’s circuit last season. The Spaniard had just won one title before the clay season, in which he won the Monte Carlo Masters, Italian Open, and Roland Garros. He reached the final of the Wimbledon Championships after winning the Queen’s Club Championships.

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K, The Independent)

He claimed his second Grand Slam title at the US Open and went on to win eight tour-level titles. However, his rivalry with Jannik Sinner helped him to be at his best on the court and fight for any title. During the aforementioned interview, the seven-time Grand Slam champion admitted that Sinner has made him a much better player on tour:

I don’t know, maybe yes, maybe no, but what I can guarantee is that Jannik has made me a much better player. Having him there, having the goal in every practice of trying to improve those little details I need to work on, especially when I’m going to face him, is what makes me improve. I’m very grateful that Jannik is on the tour because he makes me give 100%.

Sinner and Alcaraz met six times last season, with the latter winning four of those meetings. The pair met at the Monte Carlo Masters final, which Sinner won in straight sets to win his first clay-court title since 2022.

Also Read: ATP Youngster Claims Carlos Alcaraz’s Dominance Could be “Detrimental” for Spanish Players on Tour