Lebanon's Habib ready for fairytale clash with Alcaraz

PARIS : Lebanon's Hady Habib thought he was dreaming when he walked into the player's gym at Roland Garros and saw Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic working out ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Now, because of a quirk of fate, the Houston-born 25-year-old will walk out on Court Suzanne Lenglen on Saturday to face Carlos Alcaraz in the first round of the men's singles.

Ranked 275th in the ATP's singles rankings, Habib was only slated to play doubles in Paris with Benjamin Hassan.

But when world number one Jannik Sinner withdrew from the Olympics with tonsillitis on Wednesday, Habib, who plays his tennis on the second-level Challenger Tour, received a call-up.

Things rapidly escalated and Thursday's draw pitched him against Spanish second seed Alcaraz, the new force in men's tennis and winner of the French Open and Wimbledon this year.

"Originally, I was supposed to play only doubles with Benjamin. On Wednesday, I heard I got in as an alternate," he said. "And the day after that I'm drawn to playing Carlos Alcaraz. So this has been an interesting five days for me."

Habib began playing as a youngster in Mtyleb, Lebanon, before his parents Fady and Suzy moved back to the U.S. to help him and his sister Hoda pursue tennis careers. He will now become the first player to represent Lebanon in Olympic tennis.

"I've been filled with emotions, excitement, a little bit of nerves, but it's good. I'm really excited to get this opportunity to play, represent Lebanon," he said after training on Friday. "I was just happy to be an Olympian. Now I'm playing Alcaraz on (Court) Suzanne Lenglen.

"I'm so happy and stoked, and ready and excited to play."

It has been a whirlwind for Habib who said his phone has been "blowing up" with good luck messages. "It's