2024 Paris Olympics Day 3: Novak Djokovic v Rafael Nadal, ep 60
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In a blockbuster second round, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal resume their rivalry at the Paris 2024 Olympics Monday afternoon.
Nadal, today, had to overcome three break points and a 0-40 deficit on serve in the third set to put away Marton Fucsovics in three to set up the meeting, their 60th overall.
Djokovic is ahead 30-29 but Nadal holds the monster lead on the red clay at Roland Garros far ahead 8-2.
“Of course it’s beautiful to play against one of the two biggest rivals that I had in my career, especially on this court,” Nadal said. “But situations are completely different for him, for me. He’s being very competitive. I was not being very competitive for the last two years, so in that case, I think probably he is the clear favorite. I’m going to try my best to bring the best to the court and then let’s see how how far I can go and how many problems I can create him.”
The two last played at the 2022 French Open when Nadal took down Djokovic in four sets in the quarterfinals. And their first meeting ever also came at the French Open in 2006, also won by Rafa.
This time, though, Djokovic will go in as the favorite. The Serb has been the healthier and sharper player of late having just made the Wimbledon finals. And he breezed in his opener while Nadal struggled today with Fucsovics and also played a doubles match on Saturday. How fresh is Rafa? He also has his upper right thigh tapped up and stated that he wasn’t sure if he’d play singles today.
Now, he faces his toughest challenge in Djokovic. But Roland Garros and Phillippe Chatrier is home. It’s a place he’s won 14 times and holds a 112-4 record.
“It has been always super special to play against Novak, no doubt about that,” Nadal added. “But normally we have been playing for finals or for semi-finals. This is in the second round. Of course, it’s in the Olympics, where every match is super special. But it’s true that at the same time, almost every single match I arrived with a different situation than I am in today. So that makes the match more difficult for me and more unpredictable, no? But I always have hope. I always believe, and I am going to give my best.”
Djokovic calls the match-up the “last dance”.
“We’ll spread some fireworks on the court, like the good old times,” Djokovic said on Saturday. “I hope we get to meet because it will probably be one last dance for both of us.”
While Djokovic-Nadal rightly gets center stage, there are other matches.
Iga Swiatek looks to win her 23rd straight at Roland Garros in the Chatrier Opener. Fellow French Open winner Carlos Alcaraz is on at night and US Open champion Coco Gauff headlines Lenglen court and Barbora Krejcikova, Casper Ruud and Jasmine Paolini are also in action.
MONDAY PARIS OLYMPICS SCHEDULE
Court Philippe-Chatrier
starting at 12:00
(1) SWIATEK Iga (POL) vs (DA) PARRY Diane (FRA)
not before 13:30
(1) DJOKOVIC Novak (SRB) vs (DA) NADAL Rafael (ESP)
starting at 19:00
(DA) GRIEKSPOOR Tallon (NED) vs (2) ALCARAZ Carlos (ESP)
(5) PEGULA Jessica (USA) vs (DA) SVITOLINA Elina (UKR)
Court Suzanne-Lenglen
starting at 12:00
(DA) LINETTE Magda (POL) vs (4) PAOLINI Jasmine (ITA)
not before 13:30
(ITF) CARLE Maria Lourdes (ARG) vs (2) GAUFF Coco (USA)
(6) RUUD Casper (NOR) vs (DA) VAVASSORI Andrea (ITA)
(1) SIEGEMUND / ZVEREV (GER) vs (DA) SINIAKOVA / MACHAC (CZE)
(DA) ERRANI / VAVASSORI (ITA) vs (DA) ANDREEVA / MEDVEDEV (AIN)
Court Simonne-Mathieu
starting at 12:00
(DA) WANG Xinyu (CHN) vs (9) KREJCIKOVA Barbora (CZE)
(DA) CERUNDOLO Francisco (ARG) vs (10) HUMBERT Ugo (FRA)
(DA) EVANS Daniel (GBR) vs (8) TSITSIPAS Stefanos (GRE)
(DA) POPYRIN / DE MINAUR (AUS) vs (4) KRAJICEK / RAM (USA)
(DA) SCHUURS / KOOLHOF (NED) vs (4) SAKKARI / TSITSIPAS (GRE)
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