Spain’s Rafael Nadal with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic pose for {photograph} earlier than their singles match on the Paris Olympics on July 29, 2024.
| Picture Credit score: AP
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic sq. off in an Olympic Video games blockbuster on July 29, their first assembly in over two years, whereas Iga Swiatek stepped up her quest for gold by powering into the third spherical.
The most recent chapter of a generation-defining rivalry, and maybe the ultimate act, will deliver Nadal and Djokovic full circle — the duo having met as youngsters of their very first assembly within the 2006 Roland Garros quarterfinals.
That is the earliest stage of a match the pair have ever met, with Nadal removed from the virtually invincible participant who dominated on clay for nicely over a decade.
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The 38-year-old — who has received 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles on the French Open — believes outdated rival Djokovic shall be favorite after they meet for the sixtieth time.
“Conditions are utterly completely different for him, for me. He’s being very aggressive. I used to be not being very aggressive for the final two years, so in that case, I believe most likely he’s the clear favorite,” stated Nadal, who holds an 8-2 head-to-head benefit over the Serb at Roland Garros.
“I’m going to attempt my finest to deliver the most effective to the courtroom after which let’s see how far I can go and what number of issues I can create for him.”
Djokovic, chasing a primary Olympic gold so as to add to his 24 Grand Slams, expects the conflict to ship.
“We’ll unfold some fireworks on the courtroom, like the nice outdated occasions,” stated Djokovic, who has additionally but to win a title this season.
“Enjoying him is like finals for me. His file at Roland Garros speaks for itself.”
4-time French Open champion Swiatek underlined her standing on the heavy favorite for girls’s gold in Paris, swatting residence hope Diane Parry apart 6-1, 6-1.
Swiatek, who misplaced within the second spherical in Tokyo, meets China’s Wang Xiyu for a spot within the quarter-finals.
World primary Swiatek has received her final 23 matches at Roland Garros, with three clay titles already underneath her belt this season.
The Pole, examined in her opening match underneath the roof on Court docket Philippe Chatrier, loved a much more simple outing in shiny sunshine on Monday.
Swiatek received the primary 5 video games of the match and broke 5 occasions as she strolled to victory in simply 74 minutes.
US second seed Coco Gauff performs Argentina’s Maria Lourdes Carle later.
Reigning males’s French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz takes on Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor within the night.
Scorching warmth posed a substantial downside for tennis gamers on the Tokyo Olympic, and the difficulty might resurface this week with highs of 35 levels Celsius anticipated on Tuesday.
