Djokovic Triumphs Over Nadal to Keep Olympic Gold Medal Hopes Alive

Novak Djokovic demonstrated his exceptional form by defeating long-time rival Rafael Nadal in their Olympic second-round match, keeping his pursuit of the coveted gold medal alive. The Serbian, aged 37, showcased his dominance over Nadal in a commanding performance, winning 6-1, 6-4 on the famous Roland Garros clay.

From the onset, Djokovic appeared to be in a different class than the 38-year-old Spaniard. Djokovic quickly took control, leading 4-0 in the second set, silencing the strong local support for Nadal. Although Nadal, known as the King of Clay for his 14 French Open titles at the venue, mounted a comeback to level the set, Djokovic shifted gears to break for 5-4 and served out the match.

“I’m very relieved,” Djokovic remarked post-match. “Everything was going my way, I was 6-1, 4-0 up but I played a sloppy service game and gave him chances.”

Despite Nadal’s storied success at Roland Garros, he could not contend with Djokovic’s caliber, especially with his thigh injury hampering his movement. The two legendary players, who together boast 46 Grand Slam singles titles, exchanged a warm embrace at the net, with Djokovic respectfully applauding Nadal as he left the court.

This match marked the 60th encounter between the two, furthering the most-played rivalry in men’s tennis history. Djokovic now leads their head-to-head with a slender 31-29 advantage. Reflecting on their enduring rivalry, Djokovic said, “I never thought back in 2006 that we’d still be playing each other almost 20 years later.”

For Djokovic, the Olympic gold remains a significant career goal yet to be achieved. Meanwhile, Nadal will continue his Olympic campaign at Roland Garros, joining forces with Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, for the men’s doubles representing Spain.