Novak Djokovic puts Nadal’s latest Olympic adventure on hold | ATP Tour

Paris Olympics

Djokovic puts Nadal’s latest Olympic adventure on hold

The Spaniard is still in the doubles draw alongside Alcaraz

July 29, 2024

The greatest rivalry in the history of the ATP Tour added a new story to the Lexus ATP Head2Head this Monday at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, eighteen years after the first meeting that had taken place precisely on the same stage: the clay court of Roland Garros.

This time, the 60th round at the Philippe Chatrier went to Novak Djokovic, who beat Rafael Nadal in the second round 6-1, 6-4, in one hour and 43 minutes, to tip the head-to-head in his favour by 31-29.

With 46 Grand Slam titles – the two men’s players with the most trophies at this level – spread across both sides of the court, all eyes were on this Olympic duel. Djokovic and Nadal had not met since the quarter-finals of Roland Garros 2022.

The Spaniard had won three of their last four head-to-head meetings, but after two years of practically not competing on the ATP Tour, there had not been another duel between two great icons of the sport. And, on this occasion, the result reflected the difference in their on-court performance in recent times.

For Nadal, who landed in Paris after reaching the final at the ATP 250 in Bastad (l. to Nuno Borges), it was his 19th match of the season; while Djokovic, who came from playing the title match at Wimbledon (l. to Carlos Alcaraz) had played 32 matches this year.

The match started with the intensity typical of this classic of tennis, with great points and changes in the scoreboard. However, the Balkan player was able to resolve the decisive moments on his side and did not wait long to take advantage in the form of a double break. Djokovic went 5-0 up to close out the first set in 39 minutes.

The No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, who acts as the top seed in Paris following the withdrawal of Jannik Sinner, felt even more comfortable on the court in the second set and stepped up to regain control with a double break advantage (4-0). But Nadal had not had his last word.

The man from Manacor responded as he has always done in his career, believing in his possibilities, forcing the players to play one more point. He worked quietly to make up for the distance until he regained control in the exchanges and equalised 4-4. But the Serbian found a way to get back into the match in a long game to seal a fifth break that was already decisive.

Djokovic ended Nadal’s third Olympic adventure in the singles (gold in Beijing 2008, fourth in Rio 2016 and second round in Paris 2024), although the Spaniard will continue competing in the pairs event alongside Alcaraz.

In search of the quarter-finals, the Serbian will face the winner of the match between the Italian Matteo Arnaldi and the German Dominik Koepfer.