It will be a dream meeting in the second round of the tennis Olympic Games tournament on the Roland Garros clay in Paris – the Spaniard Rafael Nadal against the Serb Novak Djokovic.
The two legends have together taken 46 Grand Slam titles during their careers.
The Spaniard Rafael Nadal was long uncertain about playing in the singles tournament. He is also playing in the doubles with his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz.
I will talk to my people and make the smartest decision I can to have the best chance of taking home a medal, said Nadal.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner from Mallorca did, however, take to the court and won in the first singles round against the Hungarian Marton Fucsovic with 2–1 in sets after the scores 6–1, 4–6, 6–4.
Now the world number two Novak Djokovic, who has won 24 Grand Slam titles in his career, awaits on the clay in Paris in the second round. There, Nadal – who, after a few injury-filled seasons, is now ranked as number 161 in the world – has won the French Championships a total of 14 times.
Last time he won a Grand Slam tournament was in 2022 – against Djokovic in the final.
Nadal won Olympic gold in singles in 2008 and Olympic gold in doubles with Marc López in 2016. Djokovic took Olympic bronze in singles in 2008.