Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal in what is most likely the last-ever meeting between two of tennis’s most decorated players of all time. The Olympics second-round clash between the heavyweight hitters is the 60th meeting between them, taking Djokovic’s win tally to 31 wins over the Spaniard.
The Serbian’s quest for the elusive Olympic gold medal, the only major trophy he’s never won, is still alive with the 6-1, 6-4 win in the illustrious Court Philippe-Chatrier arena. Defeating Rafael Nadal sets up a third-round clash against Dominik Koepfer, representing Germany. How far will Djokovic advance?
Djokovic Wins First Set Flawlessly
Novak Djokovic started the match dominantly, but after racing to three game points on his serve in the first game, he quickly lost his way and threw away the next three points to drag Rafael Nadal back into the game. In the end, the Serbian gathered himself and went on to hold his serve two points later.
Djokovic quickly took the advantage in the next game after Nadal gifted him a break of his serve with two misplaced shots, one being a forehand shot that went long and another bouncing wide after hitting the net. The Serbian quickly turned up the heat with four well-played points to hold his serve and consolidate his lead.
The fourth game showed Rafael Nadal wasn’t playing at his best. He hit a misplaced forehand and backhand shots the legend was able to put away with relative ease. With a backhand winner down the line and one of those wayward forehands from the Spaniard, Djokovic took a double-break lead.
Lethally, Novak Djokovic took the fifth game at love to lead the set 5-0. However, Rafael Nadal eventually got himself on the board in the sixth game where he made fewer errors than the Serbian to hold his serve. But there were no signs of a comeback as Djokovic held firm to serve out the first set.
Rafael Nadal Falls Short Of A Comeback
Any hopes of a comeback were extinguished in the first game of the second set after Djokovic took an early break of the Spaniard’s serve. Moments of the prime Djokovic that dominated the world from 2011 until the present day showed in the second game, especially at 30-0 where he hit a forehand winner down the line on the run.
Djokovic took the double-break lead in the second set to lead 3-0 and planted his feet firmly in the third round of the Olympics. At this point, it was certain that the final chapter of the epic rivalry between the two would end in a Novak Djokovic victory. Nadal eventually won his first game of the set in the fifth game with his best performance of the set up until then.
What followed was a game marred by errors from both parties, but with Djokovic out-erroring Nadal, the Spaniard earned his first break of the Serbian’s serve in the match. Nadal went on to hold his serve again and win a third consecutive game, sparking hopes a comeback would be in the cards.
One could taste the hopes and anticipation in the air as Rafael Nadal forced two break points on Djokovic in the set’s eighth game. The crowd couldn’t hide their excitement for the legend who has won 14 French Open titles on that surface. Nadal eventually took the break of Djokovic’s serve at the second attempt. The Spaniard leveled the set from 0-4 down.
Djokovic eventually broke Nadal’s serve again after four attempts to open a 5-4 lead, putting him in position to serve for the match. In the end, the Serbian ended the match and Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round.
Novak Djokovic Ends The Rivalry On Top
After the match, Novak Djokovic only had great things to say about one of his biggest rivals ever. Considered the most prolific rivalry in tennis in the Open Era, the pair’s rivalry has spanned 18 years and 60 matches, including 28 finals. Nine of those finals were in Grand Slam tournaments.
“Back in 2006, I don’t think we would have thought we would be playing against each other on the same court at the Olympics. So I think we will appreciate this match very much. I think our rivalry and I think for the sport itself. I think there was a lot of attention and interest directed from sports towards us. It is unfortunate for him that he wasn’t at his best, but I did everything I could to make him feel uncomfortable.”
Djokovic and Nadal clashed in the semifinal of the 2008 Summer Olympics on hard court. After a grueling encounter that lasted two hours and ten minutes, Rafael Nadal claimed his 10th win over Novak Djokovic after 14 career meetings on tour.
Nadal led Djokovic on their head-to-head record from the pair’s first meeting until their 46th meeting in the semifinal of the 2015 ATP World Tour Finals. Djokovic won that match 6-3, 6-3 before going on to win the title after defeating Roger Federer in the final.
Today’s win over Nadal is Djokovic’s ninth victory on clay court in 29 attempts. Spain’s hopes of a gold medal in the singles category of the Olympics now rest on the shoulders of two-time Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz won his second round match against Tallon Griekspoor earlier today.
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