“His rank kinda dropped a lil bit but…” Novak Djokovic takes a sly dig at the possibility of facing Rafael Nadal as early as R2 at Paris Olympics
Djokovic lost to Nadal in Beijing 2008, which remains their only meeting at the Summer Games so far.
Follow Us
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal (Via Imago)
Thursday (July 25) was an important day at the 2024 Paris Olympics, as all the sporting stars gathered to witness their draws for the tournament. The tennis draw was also released and it turned out to be more exciting than expected.
With Jannik Sinner out of the Olympics due to illness, Novak Djokovic is the new top seed in this tournament. He will lead the draw in the first half and play against Matthew Ebden in the first round.
He could face his long-time rival Rafael Nadal in the second round if both of them win their first-round matches, a potential clash that has the fans buzzing already. Djokovic is also looking forward to the matchup.
The Serbian even took a sly dig at his opponent in an interview with Access Hollywood, stating that the Spaniard his ranking dropped as he hadn’t played much recently, which was the reason why they could meet early in the tournament.
Obviously, he hasn’t played much and his ranking dropped, so there is always going to be the possibility of meeting him in early rounds and there we go.Novak Djokovic said
Nevertheless, he is excited about the match and stated that they can expect some fireworks for their ‘last dance’ together.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s history at the Olympics
Novak Djokovic might take on Rafael Nadal in the second round of the Olympics. This might be the first time that they will face off in a couple of years, but not their first at the Summer Games. While Djokovic leads their head-to-head 30-29, their only Olympics face-off came in the 2008 Beijing semifinals, where Nadal won en route to clinching the gold medal.
The Roland Garros grounds have also seen many of their clashes over the years. Nadal beat Djokovic eight out of the 10 times they played on the red dirt in Paris. The Spaniard has been one of the strongest clay court players over the years and he will make the most of it if he gets to face the Serbian in the sound round at the Paris Olympics.
Unfortunately, there is a small possibility of Nadal not playing in Paris now after feeling some discomfort in his thigh. His team will assess the situation after 48 hours and will take a call closer to the match.
In Case You Missed It:
- Novak Djokovic drops huge retirement hint as he relates with long-time rivals Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal calling it a day to their careers
- “I can’t assure you that he will play,” Rafael Nadal’s Paris Olympics participation doubtful after coach Carlos Moya confirms setback
Stay Updated!
Laxman Naren
(1457 Articles Published)