Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal are knocked OUT of the Paris Olympics as dream Spanish pairing fall short in men's tennis doubles against USA

Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal have been knocked out of the men's tennis doubles in the Paris Olympics after losing to Team USA.

The Spanish pairing had been a duo of the past and present of tennis, with the once-clay King Nadal partnering with the two-time Wimbledon winner 17 years his junior in a bid to make history.

But it was one step too far for the pair on Wednesday evening as they lost in straight sets to Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.

Tennis lovers had hoped that there was a possibility that Spain could end up meeting Team GB's Andy Murray and Dan Evans in the final of the competition.

Murray and Evans are writing their own story and will be back in action on Thursday, but the end of Nadal's career was drawn a step closer on Wednesday following defeat.

After the final serve of the game was checked to be legal, Nadal pulled Alcaraz back and embraced his team-mate, likely to thank him for the journey the two had been on in Nadal's final Olympics.

There is plenty more for Alcaraz to offer. Just 21, he is one of the msot talented youngsters the game has ever seen, and, though the Olympics did not feature the two playing against each other, the hug felt like a passing of the torch moment.

The crowd were on their feet at every break point saved. Their heads in their hands as the game was confirmed done.