Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alacaraz launch Olympics doubles bid in style

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz launched their blockbuster partnership in style with victory over sixth seeds Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni at Roland Garros.

Fresh from his starring role at the opening ceremony, Nadal was back doing what he does best on the stage he knows so well as he and Alcaraz claimed a 7-6 (4) 6-4 first-round victory in the men’s doubles.

He still had strapping on his right thigh and it remains to be seen whether the 14-time French Open champion will contest his scheduled singles match against Marton Fucsovics on Sunday but, on this evidence, Nadal and Alcaraz will take some stopping.

Nadal had played 116 matches at Roland Garros before this one, winning 112 of them, but none quite like this.

For a start it was his first doubles match on the Parisian clay, with his friend and heir by his side, and in front of a crowd as hyped as any for a French Open final.

There was a reminder this was a French not Spanish audience when Gonzalez and Molteni were booed as they walked onto court, tarnished by association with their disgraced football compatriots.

Nadal may be best known for his singles achievements but he is an experienced doubles campaigner, winning Olympic gold eight years ago with Marc Lopez.

First victory for this already iconic duo, Nadalcaraz!