The ‘big three’ story still has one chapter remaining as Rafael Nadal marched into the second round of the Paris Olympics to set up a dream clash against Novak Djokovic.
Uncertainty crept into the Nadal camp yesterday when the Spaniard voiced his displeasure about being scheduled for an early afternoon slot after coming off a 10 p.m. doubles match, labelling the decision as ‘outrageous’.
Nonetheless, the 38-year-old took to the court, arguably producing some of his best tennis in 2024 against Hungary’s Márton Fucsovics to wrap up a convincing 6-1 first set.
Lethal topspin forehands and impeccable court coverage almost had the sense of Nadal becoming reborn as he rolled back the years in style.
The tables turned in the second set when Fucsovics claimed an early 3-0 lead of his own which turned into 5-2, before the 14-time French Open champion lit up Court Philippe-Chatrier to get the break back and save two set points down 15-40. But it wasn’t enough to avoid levelling the contest.
After a 58-minute gruelling third set and two hours and 32 minutes later, Nadal sent the crowd into raptures to clinch a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 win.
Up next is long-time rival Novak Djokovic in the round of 32 in what will be the pair’s 60th meeting.
Five of their past six meetings have been on clay with Nadal leading 4-1 since the 2019 Rome Masters. The Serbian star leads the head-to-head record 30-29.
After being named the 2024 Laureus Sportsman of the Year in April, Djokovic said he “hopes to play Nadal at least one more time before he retires.”
“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 semifinals. This, is a second round,” Nadal said after the match.
“Every single match that I played against Novak — 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. But I always have hope, I always believe, and I’m going to give my best.”
The second round clash is scheduled for the day session on Monday at 2 p.m. local time (10 p.m. AEST).
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