Djokovic outlasts Nadal in quest for gold

Global (Commonwealth) _In their second-round encounter at the Olympics, Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal, his longtime nemesis, to advance in his quest for the elusive gold medal.

The 37-year-old Djokovic of Serbia outplayed Rafael Nadal for the most of their one-sided match, which he won 6-1 6-4 on the Roland Garros clay. The passionate support for the Spaniard was subdued by Djokovic’s 4-0 lead in the second set, but 38-year-old Rafael Nadal rallied to erase the double break.

However, Djokovic put on another strong performance, as we have witnessed time and time again, to break for a 5-4 lead and close out the match. “I’m so relieved,” Djokovic remarked. I was ahead 4-0 and 6-1, and everything was going my way, then I played a careless serve game and handed him opportunities.

Despite having won 14 French Open championships at the Olympic stadium, Rafael Nadal, sometimes referred to as the “King of Clay,” was unable to trouble Djokovic because of his aura. 46 Grand Slam singles championships have been won by the two together. They embraced at the net, and Djokovic then clapped Nadal off the court with style.

It marked the 60th encounter in their long-lasting rivalry; no two men have ever faced off against one another more. Since their first encounter in 2006, Djokovic has won their head-to-head match 31–29. Djokovic stated, “I never imagined back in 2006 that we’d still be playing each other almost 20 years later.”

In the newest installment of their long-running rivalry, Djokovic steps up Rafael Nadal suffered just his fifth loss in 118 singles matches at Roland Garros at the hands of Novak Djokovic. In men’s singles tennis, Djokovic has won every possible championship, including 24 Grand Slams in the four majors and every ATP Masters tournament.

However, he has yet to win the Olympic championship, which is the one he truly wants. 2008 gold champion Rafael Nadal was taken aback by the top seed’s explosive start, which may have been his best performance of the year.

With a severely strapped thigh once more, Rafael Nadal was hardly the player who has won 22 majors and was unable to handle Djokovic’s skill until the latter stages of the match.

Nadal will make his way back to Roland Garros, where a metallic statue honoring his accomplishments, on Tuesday when he competes for Spain in the men’s doubles division partnering Carlos Alcaraz, the defending French Open and Wimbledon winner. It is unclear what will happen next. Due to injuries, Nadal has hardly played the last two seasons. Last year, he made hints that he would retire at the end of the 2024 campaign.

This could have been the last time the former world number one played singles on Court Philippe Chatrier, even though he has subsequently stated he intends to continue playing as long as his body allows him. Whatever transpires, it’s quite likely that Djokovic and Nadal will never again engage in a competitive rivalry on a tennis court.

in the meantime, the Czech duo of Tomas Machac and Adam Pavlasek defeated the British pair of Joe Salisbury and Neil Skupski 4-6 6-3 10-8 in the opening round of the men’s doubles. After their loss, the only British players remaining in the men’s doubles competition are Dan Evans and Andy Murray, who will retire following the Games.

In the second round of the singles later on Monday, Evans, who had won an almost unbelievable match with Murray on Sunday night, fell short 6-1 6-2 against Stefanos Tsitsipas, a Greek eighth seed.

The 34-year-old Evans added, “It wasn’t that good from me really; he’s an amazing tennis player and was too good.” “It was simply too much given the short turnaround time. But I went out there because I should not be turning down the opportunity to play for Great Britain.”

Iga Swiatek of Poland, the gold-medal favorite in the women’s singles, defeated Diane Parry of France 6-1, 6-1, to go to the third round with ease. For the third year in a row, Swiatek, 23, triumphed in the French Open on the Roland Garros clay court last month.

Coco Gauff, the second seed from America, defeated Maria Lourdes Carles of Argentina 6-1, 6-1, while Italian Jasmine Paolini, the fourth seed who recently came runner-up at the French Open and Wimbledon, defeated Magda Linette of Poland 6-4, 6-1.