Nadal Set to Battle Djokovic in Olympic Showdown Following Three-Set Victory at Roland Garros
Rafael Nadal has set up a highly anticipated Olympic clash with Novak Djokovic on Sunday, overcoming injury concerns to secure his place in the next round. Nadal, who has claimed 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles on the clay courts of Roland Garros, defeated the 83rd-ranked Marton Fucsovics 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in a gripping first-round match. Despite wearing strapping on his injured right thigh, Nadal managed to prevail after a challenging two hours and 30 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Nadal’s upcoming match against Djokovic will mark the 60th encounter between the two tennis legends. Reflecting on the match, Nadal noted the significance of playing one of his biggest rivals but acknowledged that Djokovic is currently the clear favorite due to his recent competitiveness. Nadal, who won the Olympic singles gold medal in 2008 and the doubles title in 2016, showed resilience in the final set after an early struggle. A crucial break in the fifth game secured his victory.
The Spaniard had cast doubt on his singles participation following a thigh injury sustained during training. He had previously partnered with Carlos Alcaraz in a victorious doubles match, but his commitment to singles was uncertain. Nadal and Djokovic have a storied rivalry, with Nadal leading their head-to-head record 8-2 at Roland Garros.
In doubles, Andy Murray and Dan Evans delivered a dramatic comeback to advance past Japan’s Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori with a 2-6, 7-6 (5), 11-9 win. Murray, who announced that the Paris Games would be the final event of his career, saved five match points in a thrilling tiebreaker. The former world number one, who has two Olympic singles gold medals, will only compete in doubles after withdrawing from the singles event.
The tournament has seen its share of withdrawals, including Australia’s Alex de Minaur, who pulled out due to a hip injury, and Britain’s Cameron Norrie, who was replaced by Petros Tsitsipas. Additionally, several players, including 47th-ranked Anhelina Kalinina, withdrew, leading to replacements in the draw.
In women’s singles, Zheng Qinwen, Maria Sakkari, and Danielle Collins advanced with quick wins, while Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova won her first Roland Garros match since her 2021 French Open triumph.
