Novak Djokovic foils fairytale Rafael Nadal Olympics comeback | Tennis | Sport
Novak Djokovic fended off a late comeback attempt from Rafael Nadal after their highly-anticipated 60th meeting quickly turned into a damp squib.
The long-time rivals were facing off for the first time in more than two years. But a lot has changed since Nadal beat Djokovic in the 2022 French Open quarter-final and the Spaniard has barely played due to several injury setbacks.
It showed as Djokovic raced into a 6-1 4-0 lead before Nadal’s last-ditch effort to get back in the match. But the world No. 2 denied his old foe the chance of a fairytale comeback and came through 6-1 6-4.
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The first game showed signs of hope for fans who didn’t want to see Nadal go down without a fight. Djokovic led 40-0 on his serve before the King of Court Philippe-Chatrier sprung into life and fired down a winner. A couple of mistakes from Djokovic put them at deuce as the chants of “Rafa” kicked in but the top seed got on the board.
And any chance of a competitive first set was lost it quickly started to run away from the 38-year-old Spaniard. Facing a break point, the ball caught the net tape and went out, gifting Djokovic the game. Nadal was clearly on the back foot and the explosive power he possessed in his last 59 meetings with Djokovic just wasn’t there.
The world No. 2 continued to dropshot his old foe as Nadal, lacking match fitness, tried to chase them down. The Spaniard had success while saving a break point in the fourth game, responding with a winner. But he succumbed to Djokovic again, framing the ball to trail 0-4. It took 35 minutes for Nadal to get on the board at 1-5, avoiding a bagel.
There was a flash of brilliance as he hit a winner around the net post when Djokovic served for the set and the Serb responded with a thumbs-up. But he quickly reeled off the next four points to take it 6-1. Chants of “Rafa” continued to ring out around the main showcourt at Stade Roland Garros.
But their man was under pressure again at the start of the second set and quickly went down an early double-break again. By the time he trailed 1-6 0-3, the 14-time French Open champion had already hit 17 unforced errors in a low-quality showing. But just as the mood inside Philippe-Chatrier started to fall flat, Nadal gave the crowd and himself a boost of energy as he held for 1-4 in the second set.
The 38-year-old roared as he got on the board for just the second time in the match and ensured that his record of never being bagelled by Djokovic remained in place. The pendulum started to swing and he finally had his first break point of the match, 74 minutes in. Djokovic handed Nadal his first break of the day with a double fault and the Spanish fans’ spirits quickly lifted. Suddenly, the momentum was with the 2008 gold medallist.
Nadal reeled off his fourth straight game and levelled at 4-4 with an incredible point, somehow returning a smash and drawing out an error from Djokovic. But the top seed refused to let his rival get ahead.
Nadal was drawn into another long game, saving three break points before the Serb sealed the deal with a winner. This time, Djokovic held firm and dealt the final blow with an ace, coming through their 60th contest to lead their head-to-head 31-29.
Nadal is still alive in the doubles draw, where he has partnered Carlos Alcaraz. They will face Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof of The Netherlands on Tuesday. But if this was his last-ever singles match on the Roland Garros grounds, it was fitting that his biggest rival was the one to take him out.
