Alex Corretja hails Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic’s 60th career meeting as a “gift for Olympics”

Nadal and Djokovic locked horns with each other 59 times with the Serb leading it by 30-29.

Alex Corretja hails Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic’s 60th career meeting as a “gift for Olympics”

Rafael Nadal, Alex Corretja, Novak Djokovic (Images via Imago, OkDiario)

Rafael Nadal is set to meet Novak Djokovic for the 60th time in his career! They will meet in the second round of the Paris Olympics at the Roland Garros court on Monday (July 29).

Nadal and Djokovic locked horns with each other 59 times with the Serb leading the head-to-head record by the finest of margins, for he leads it with 30-29. Former Spanish player Alex Corretja feels their 60th head-to-head clash is going to be the gift for the Olympics.

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The score doesn't matter anymore. They don't need to prove to anyone who is better. They have done everything in their careers. They should take it as a gift for tennis, for the sport, for the Olympics. The whole world will be watching this match.
Alex Corretja told Eurosport

Prior to setting up the clash with the 38-year-old Spaniard, Djokovic eliminated Australia’s Matthew Ebden easily in straight sets 6-0, 6-1. Nadal on the other hand was not sure whether to play in singles. But he did play and beat Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in three sets 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.

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Nadal is also featuring in doubles with 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz and they won their first round match against Argentina. The 22-time Grand Slam has won two Olympic golds both in singles and doubles. He won the gold in singles at the 2008 Beijing Games, while in doubles he stood at the podium in 2016 Rio Games. Djokovic is a bronze medalist in Olympics (won in 2008).

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Novak Djokovic calls Rafael Nadal his biggest rival

Ahead of the blockbuster clash between two of the greatest tennis players of all time, Novak Djokovic called Rafael Nadal his biggest rival. Nadal, who leads 11-7 in major finals was beaten by only Djokovic in all Grand Slam finals.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal (Images via Imago)
Nadal is my big gest rival. As long as Nadal is playing, as long as I'm playing, Nadal is always my biggest rival, regardless of the rankings or what's going on the tour just because of the history of our rivalry.
Novak Djokovic told Tennis TV

Djokovic, who like Nadal is trophyless this season with just one final appearance, is considered the favourite this time. The Spaniard has been battling form and fitness troubles and even though he is playing on his favorite surface, he was seen struggling in the previous clay-court events, including at the French Open where he lifted the trophy a record 14 times.

Since his return to the court at the Barcelona Open, Nadal has been playing on the red dirt. He also skipped the Wimbledon and instead played at the Nordea Open where he reached his first final of the season but lost to Portugal’s Nuno Borges. The Serb on the other hand made it to the Wimbledon final where Carlos Alcaraz easily defeated him in straight sets.

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