Carlos Alcaraz says he will “shut up and listen” to Rafael Nadal with the pair set to form a deadly doubles duo at the Olympics this month.

The 21-year-old two-time Wimbledon champion may have the world at his feet but when it comes to teaming up with fellow countryman and tennis icon Nadal, Alacaraz has made it clear that Rafa is the boss while he feels like the “rookie”. The tennis world erupted with excitement last month with the announcement that the duo will team up, and while Alcaraz has been open about his limited experience in the doubles arena, the team-up will no doubt be one of the highlights of the Olympic games.

Nadal previously won men’s singles gold at the 2008 Games and then gold again in the men’s doubles eight years later in Rio alongside Marc Lopez. The pair will also compete in the singles at the Olympics this year and the four-time Grand Slam winner predicts the nerves will come when the games begin.

“I’m not nervous right now. I’m sure I will be when the time comes closer,” Alcaraz told Mundo Deportivo. “And yes, obviously, he has already experienced this, he already knows what it’s like to play in the Olympics, to win gold in both singles and doubles. I’m new, I’m the rookie here, so I have to shut up and listen to him.”

Alcaraz’s preparations for the star-studded Olympic team-up will be almost non-existent with the youngster having a jam-packed schedule ahead of their doubles adventure. However, with the event taking place at Stade Roland Garros, both men should feel right at home.

Nadal has a record 14 singles titles at the French Open, while Alcaraz has just won the tournament for the first time. On whether he and Nadal will catch up ahead of the games, Alcaraz believes they will have little in the way of communication until they’re lining up alongside one another at the net.

“He has his own things, we have ours,” he said. “We talk a little bit, but when we’re actually at the Games, we will talk more about the doubles and, above all, how we’re going to do it.”

In what was a major compliment to the young Spanish superstar, 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal had expressed a desire to play doubles with Alcaraz declaring that playing with his fellow Spaniard would bring closure to his storied career, saying: “It would be a good motivation, another incentive for me to be able to close my Olympic cycle playing with Carlos.”

The Olympics are no doubt a starry affair for any competitor with some of the biggest athletes on the planet taking up residence in the Olympic village throughout the games. However, Alcaraz believes he’s “too shy” to try and bag any selfies and when asked if there’s anyone he would like a cheeky snap with the 21-year-old kept his cards close to his chest.

“I haven’t thought about that. I’m too shy in that sense. I don’t know,” he said. “I’ll have to see myself in the Olympic Village and see all the athletes and say, ‘Oh, I’d like a photo with that person.'”

Alcaraz maintains that it still feels “crazy” for him to experience events such as the Olympics with his meteoric rise to fame making him one of the most famous sportsmen on the planet at such a tender age. Yet, when pressed on whether he himself will be a selfie target for many at the Olympics, Alcaraz humbly declared that it will actually be his double’s partner who will be getting all the attention when heading out for a stroll around the village.

“I have great respect for all the athletes who have qualified and are representing Spain at the Games,” he said. “So whoever wants to take a photo with me, I’d be more than happy to, but I think Rafa will be the main target.”