Novak Djokovic ready to face Rafael Nadal for “one last dance” at Paris Olympics 

Top seed Djokovic could face Nadal in the second round at the Summer Games.

Novak Djokovic ready to face Rafael Nadal for “one last dance” at Paris Olympics 

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic (Via Imago)

In the tennis tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics, all eyes are on the top half of the draw where Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal may meet in the second round. From fans to pundits, everyone is excited about the clash of the tennis legends. 

With Jannik Sinner out of the Olympics due to an illness, Djokovic will lead the draw as the top seed and will face Matthew Ebden in the first round. Nadal’s low ranking, however, has seen him get a tough draw. 

YouTube video

Nadal will take on Marton Fucsovics in the first round and could face Djokovic in the second round. This will be the first time that they will face each other this early in a tournament, and the Serbian is ready for what he considers “the last dance.”

FS Video

In a recent interview, Djokovic said that fireworks can be expected on the court as he prepares for the “one last dance” with long-time rival Nadal. 

There we go, it's going to be a spectacle definitely if we get to meet. Expect some fireworks in the court like the good old times. I hope we get to meet because it will probably be one last dance for both of us.
Novak Djokovic said (via Access Hollywood)

While Djokovic leads Nadal 30-29 in their head-to-head meetings, Nadal has won eight of their 10 clashes at Roland Garros. Their most recent clash in Paris came in the quarterfinals at the 2022 French Open, where the Spaniard won en route to clinching the title. 

Novak Djokovic clarifies the statements he said about Rafael Nadal

After learning about the Paris Olympics draw, Novak Djokovic was asked about his potential matchup with Rafael Nadal. He took a sly dig and said that the Spaniard has not played many matches recently and it was expected that he was going to face a tough draw owing to his low ranking. 

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic (Via Imago)

The Serbian soon clarified that he meant no disrespect to Nadal and credited him for everything he had achieved at Roland Garros. He also called him the King Of Clay. 

No no, all the respect for Rafa of course. It's just that he was injured and everything but he’s always the King of Clay and what he has done here at Roland Garros is unprecedented so can't wait to step on the court with him.
Novak Djokovic said (via Access Hollywood) 

Their only meeting at the Olympics happened in the semifinals at the 2008 Beijing Games, where Nadal won the match and went on to win the gold medal. 

In Case You Missed It: