Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams centre stage for lighting of Olympic cauldron | ATP Tour

Paris Olympics

Nadal, Serena Williams centre stage for lighting of Olympic cauldron

Rafa in action Saturday with Carlos Alcaraz

July 26, 2024

Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams were centre stage for the lighting of the Olympic cauldron Friday night in Paris, as the world’s eyes turned to the City of Lights for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics.

Nadal, who has won 14 of his 22 Grand Slams titles in Paris at Roland Garros, received the Olympic flame from French football legend Zinedine Zidane before boarding a boat on the Seine, where he was joined by Williams, nine-time gold medallist Carl Lewis and five-time gold medallist Nadia Comaneci.

The quartet then handed off to French tennis great and Roland Garros tournament director Amelie Mauresmo, who carried the torch to the Louvre. French judoka Teddy Riner and former French track and field star Marie-Josée Pérec had the honour of lighting the unique cauldron, which resmbled an ascending balloon in tribute to the first ‘aerostatic’ flight by the Montgolfier brothers at Versailles in 1783.

Nadal a former Olympic gold medallist in singles (2008) and doubles (2016 w/ Marc Lopez) and former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, is in action on day one of the Olympic Tennis Event Saturday, partnering Carlos Alcaraz in doubles.

Rafael Nadal during Friday evening’s Opening Ceremony in Paris.”>
Zinedine Zidane hands the Olympic Torch to Rafael Nadal during Friday evening’s Opening Ceremony in Paris. Photo: Getty Images