Ram now one step closer to bringing home a medal

Carmel’s Rajeev Ram, shown here at another tournament, advanced to the semifinals of the men’s doubles tennis tournament Wednesday at the 2024 Paris OIympics. Ram and partner Austin Krajicek beat Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal to advance to today’s semifinals. (Photo provided)

The REPORTER

Carmel’s Rajeev Ram is one step closer to playing for an Olympic medal.

Ram and partner Austin Krajicek advanced to the semifinals of the men’s doubles tennis tournament Wednesday at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Americans beat the Spanish team of Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-4.

Alcaraz has already won four major singles titles, while Nadal holds a record 14 singles championships at the French Open, which is played at Roland Garros, the tennis site of the Olympics. But the fourth-seeded Ram and Krajicek easily won the first set, then took care of business in the second set.

Ram and Krajicek will play the Czech Republic team of Tomas Machac and Adam Pavlasek in the semifinals today. The winner advances to the gold medal match, while a loss means the team will play for a bronze medal. Ram will be going for his second medal at the Olympics; he and Venus Williams won the silver medal at the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics.