Team USA pair turn up the heat

The Americans flaunted their doubles credentials as they went on a two-game run in the first set, breaking the Spanish duo from the get-go.

Krajicek was a nuisance at the net as he pounced on the Spanish returns, while Alcaraz covered a lot of ground as a counterweight.

Nadal and Alcaraz clawed their way back into the contest, but they were still a break down as they approached the end of the first set. Two consecutive double-faults by Alcaraz gave the Americans their second break to take the sting out of the Spanish fightback.

The second set got off to a better start for the Spaniards, but the momentum swung back in Krajicek and Ram’s favour as they broke serve for a 4-3 advantage.

Ram served in the eighth game to strengthen their hold on the contest and, with each winner, Nadal’s frustrated roars became more intense.

The Americans slapped palms as they held serve in the next game and they looked set to bring the curtain down on Nadal’s Olympic run.

With each big winner to save the set, Alcaraz pumped his fist and nodded to the approving fans as if they had contributed to the point. The Spanish held serve but needed to break the Americans in the next game to enforce the tiebreak.

Nadal and Alcaraz came agonisingly close to doing exactly that as they battled to three break points. But the tenacious Americans held firm to deny Nadal a dream comeback.

The Spanish duo smiled at each other as the defeat was confirmed and walked to the net to congratulate Krajicek and Ram.