Hady Habib, a tennis player from Lebanon, had no idea he would be competing in the Olympics in Paris less than four weeks ago.
Advancing through the ranks of the Challenger Tour, he was ranked in the 250–300 range, well outside the cutoff for the Olympic entrance list. He had just made it to his first final there.
Then, an unexpected email arrived in his mailbox. The Lebanese Tennis Federation announced that Habib has been awarded a universality spot, which is a wildcard invitation granted to underrepresented nations in the Games, to compete in doubles at the 2024 Olympics in Paris with his fellow countryman Benjamin Hassan.
He said in an interview: “I got caught by surprise. I was just super happy and proud to be able to say I’m an Olympian.”
Habib’s opponent in the first round of the Olympics tennis draw, which was announced on Thursday, is none other than world No. 3 and the current Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.
On Saturday at Roland Garros, Habib will now play in his first Olympic match against an iconic name on Court Suzanne Lenglen. He hadn’t given the Olympics any thought until a month ago.
Habib expressed his reaction to drawing Alcaraz in the first round: “I’ve never really been at this stage or been in the same event as all these players. It comes with excitement and a little bit of stress, but it’s good stress because you’re ready to play and it’s just an amazing feeling. I love to watch tennis and I’ve seen some of his matches and I know how amazing he can be. It’s just going to be incredible to be able to be against him.”
Hady Habib on facing Alcaraz in R1 @Paris2024:
I’ve never been @ this stage or been in the same event as all these players. It comes with excitement, a bit of stress, but it’s good stress. I know how amazing he can play & it’s gonna be incredible to be able to play against him. pic.twitter.com/UNw4UGv1lC— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) July 25, 2024
Hady Habib in 2024
LLWWWLWLWL Now ranked no.275, the Lebanese played his last match on the 17th of July when he capitulated to world no.196 Yasutaka Uchiyama 6-2 3-6 6-3 in the 2nd round of the Granby Challenger (draw).
Until now, during this year Hady owns a composed 32-23 win-loss record. Hady Habib’s best performance of the year was reaching the final in M25 Quinta Do Lago, the Santos Challenger and M25 Pensacola.
Hady Habib will come up against the world no.363 Orlando Luz in the . In the past, they have never played each other as of now in top events.
Hady reached the final in M25 Quinta Do Lago, in the Santos Challenger and in M25 Pensacola.
Habib is scheduled to play next in Bonn Challenger (Bonn Challenger). He will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 1st of January.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2024
LWLLWWWWWW At the moment ranked no.3, Alcaraz played his last match on the 14th of July when he defeated world no.2 Novak Djokovic 6-2 6-2 7-6(4) in the final in Wimbledon to win his 16th career title.
Presently, during this year the Spaniard has managed to achieve a 33-6 record. Alcaraz conquered 3 titles in 2024 in Indian Wells, French Open and Wimbledon.
Carlos Alcaraz will come up against the world no.374 Gabi Adrian Boitan in the . In the past, they have never competed against each other until now in top events.
Carlos has won 3 titles in 2024 in Indian Wells, French Open and Wimbledon.
Alcaraz won 16 titles in his career: 4 on hard courts, 8 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 3 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Hady Habib and Carlos Alcaraz have never faced off.
