On Monday, July 29, Rafael Nadal waved goodbye to his adoring fans as he departed from the court at Philippe Chatrier. The two-time Olympic tennis gold medallist was eliminated in the second round of the singles competition at Paris 2024, losing to his long-time rival Novak Djokovic with scores of 6-1, 6-4.
Djokovic was in formidable form during their 60th head-to-head match, dominating Nadal on the clay courts of Stade Roland Garros, where Nadal has famously claimed 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles. Despite Nadal’s impressive record at the venue, it was no match for Djokovic’s relentless performance.
The victory was particularly sweet for Djokovic, who had previously suffered at the hands of Nadal in past Olympic encounters. Nadal had defeated Djokovic in the semi-finals of Beijing 2008, en route to his singles gold, and again in the men’s doubles at Rio 2016.
The second-round clash between these tennis giants was a dramatic showcase of their storied rivalry. Djokovic, seeking his first Olympic gold, and Nadal, aiming for his third, provided a thrilling spectacle for fans. With a combined total of 46 Grand Slam singles titles between them, the match was a potential final curtain call for both players on the Olympic stage.
Djokovic, the all-time Grand Slam leader with three of his 24 titles coming from Paris, overwhelmed Nadal from the start. Nadal, struggling with his serve, found himself down 5-0 in the first set. Despite a determined effort to recover, Nadal’s service game was ineffective, allowing Djokovic to pressure him into mistakes.
Nadal managed to hold serve for the first time in the sixth game of the set, briefly easing the tension. However, Djokovic continued to assert control, sealing the set and moving closer to eliminating Nadal from the tournament.
