Rafael Nadal has set up a tantalising second-round contest with old foe Novak Djokovic at the Paris Olympics after coming through his opening singles match.
Nadal beat Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in the first round on Sunday to set up the showdown against rival Djokovic at the Summer Games.
‘It’s been always super special to play against Novak, no? No doubt about that. But the difference is normally we have been playing for finals or for semi-finals. This,’ the 38-year-old Nadal said with a chuckle, ‘is a second round.’
Monday afternoon’s match, scheduled to be the second of the day in Court Philippe Chatrier (not before 1.30pm local time), will be the 60th meeting between this pair of greats, more than any other two men have played against each other in the sport’s Open era, which began in 1968. Djokovic, a 37-year-old from Serbia, leads the head-to-head series 30-29, and his 24 Grand Slam titles make him the only man in tennis history with more than Nadal’s 22.
Djokovic had knee surgery in June after tearing his meniscus during the French Open in early June but recovered quickly — enough to reach the Wimbledon final two weeks ago before losing to Carlos Alcaraz.
Nadal, meanwhile, has dealt with a series of injuries the past two seasons, including hip surgery in 2023, and his right thigh was taped on Sunday. He needed a finger on his right hand treated by a trainer in the third set against Fucsovics.
Nadal had made a last-minute decision to remain in the singles bracket, a day after he won in doubles with partner Alcaraz and said he wasn’t sure if he would participate in both events.
Nadal and Alcaraz won the first match they’ve ever played together as a doubles team, eliminating Argentina’s Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 7-6, 6-4 on Saturday. Nadal called it ‘amazing’ and an ’emotional moment’.
Nadal’s participation in the 2024 Olympics actually began a night earlier, when he was a surprise torch bearer during the opening ceremony.
‘I’m just enjoying these moments playing together with Carlos now. In doubles, (it’s) been an unforgettable day today — and for me, an unforgettable day yesterday,’ Nadal said. ‘Enjoying every single moment, having the best experience possible.’
Hours earlier when Alcaraz had opened his singles campaign with a straights sets victory over Hady Habib, the 21-year-old said it was a ‘dream’ to play alongside his compatriot Nadal.
Nadal, a singles gold medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and doubles title winner at Rio four years later, had appeared on court on Saturday with a bandage strapped around his right thigh.
The Olympics is just his seventh tournament of 2024, in a season where he has also battled a hip injury and seen his singles ranking plummet to 161.
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