OLYMPIC GAMES | TENNIS
Djokovic keeps his gold medal hopes alive: Was this his last dance with Rafael Nadal?
The Serbian advanced to the next round in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and is hoping to win the medal that has eluded him for years.
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games semifinals: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic faced off for the 14th time, looking for a spot in the final. That night, the balance tipped in favor of the Spaniard, who advanced to the final and won the gold medal; the Serbian took the bronze.
16 years later, Djokovic and Nadal played their 60th match in what has developed into a historic rivalry that has captivated tennis fans around the world. However, this time the stakes were higher than ever for the Serbian: the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are (most likely) his last chance to win a gold medal that has eluded him for years.
The Serbian missed out on the podium in London 2012 after losing the bronze medal game against Juan Martín del Potro. And luck did not smile at “Nole” in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games when del Potro, once again, knocked him out in the first round. In Tokyo 2020, he also missed his chance to reach the podium after Pablo Carreño beat him in the third-place match.
What happened in the Djokovic - Nadal game?
From the beginning, the Serbian’s intentions were clear that there was no room for mercy: the Philippe Chatrier is a special court for a Nadal who went into the tie with question marks surrounding his physical condition. The first set showed how the Serbian was set to play, who took it with an impressive 6-1 scoreline.
In the second set, Djokovic began to dominate and went 4-0 up. However, for a few moments, Nadal was imbued with that typical fighting spirit, and with an impressive display, he got it back to 4-4, thrilling fans inside. However, Nadal’s hopes were taken down quickly: Djokovic recovered and took the set 6-4.
“I hope we get to meet again because it will probably be one last dance for both of us,” Djokovic said when asked about a possible game with Nadal at the start of the Olympic Games. The truth is that, at 37-years-old, for the Serbian and the Spaniard (38), we could well have witnessed their last game against each other.
What is Djokovic and Nadal’s head-to-head record?
Curiously, the first time these legends met was at the 2006 Roland Garros, when Djokovic retired during the third set after losing the first two 6-4.
This Paris 2024 Olympic Games match was their 60th and their second at the Olympics. With this win, Djokovic increased his number of victories against Nadal to 31, while the Spaniard has managed 29 wins against his rival.
When are Djokovic and Nadal’s next games?
Djokovic advanced to the third round and is waiting for the winner to be determined between Dominik Koepfer (Germany) and Matteo Arnaldi (Italy). The date is yet to be confirmed.
However, we have good news for all tennis lovers, since this is not the last time we will get to see Rafa Nadal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Despite his elimination in the singles competition, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz still have medals on their mind for Spain in the doubles tournament. The Spanish duo will play the round of 16 against the Dutch Griekspoor and Koolhof this Tuesday, July 30.