Novak Djokovic “very excited” at the likelihood of playing Rafael Nadal in the second round of the Paris Olympics

Novak Djokovic to play Australian Matthew Ebden in the first round of the Paris Olympics.

Novak Djokovic “very excited” at the likelihood of playing Rafael Nadal in the second round of the Paris Olympics

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal (via Imago)

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s potential second-round clash has taken the spotlight since the announcement of the 2024 Paris Olympics draw. Both Grand Slam champions have not played each other for two years. And ahead of their likely meeting, Djokovic has admitted that he is very excited about the match.

Djokovic and Nadal have played each other 59 times so far. Though Djokovic leads 30-29 in the overall head-to-head, Nadal boasts a 20-7 record against the Serbian on clay. However, that would likely not matter as both have struggled to play at their best recently, especially the Spaniard.

Nadal has competed in just six tournaments this season, including the French Open which he has won a record 14 times. He has won only eleven matches and recently made it to his first final in two years at the Nordea Open. On the other hand, Djokovic has failed to win any title this year and his only final appearance came at the Wimbledon, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz.

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Ahead of a possible clash at the Olympics, Djokovic admitted he has high expectations at the tournament and that a potential clash with Nadal was exciting.

I am very excited and have high expectations for the Olympics. I feel good respect and I feel more ready than I was before Wimbledon. The fact that I am not a favourite in the odds is a motivation for me. The Olympic Games have always been a big challenge for me. I focused all the preparation on this tournament. It would be exciting to play against Nadal in the second round.
Novak Djokovic said (via Sportface)

Djokovic will play Australian Matthew Ebden in his opening match, while unseeded Nadal plays Hungarian Marton Fucsovics.

Novak Djokovic admits his career is nearing its end following Andy Murray’s retirement announcement

Novak Djokovic has admitted that his career is coming to an end, following Andy Murray‘s decision to retire after the Paris Olympics. The Serbian has enjoyed an illustrious career winning 98 titles, including 24 Grand Slams and 40 Masters 1000s.

However, Djokovic has struggled to play at his best this season. He is yet to win a title despite being among the favorites in all the tournaments he has competed in this year. He is also confident that the next generation of players will take over from the current greats.

Novak Djokovic Andy Murray Wimbledon
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic (via Imago)

I am aware that an era with Nadal and Murray’s retirements after the Games is ending. I think my career is also coming to an end, but I believe there are and there will be tennis players who can carry the weight of being the best.

Novak Djokovic said (via Sportface)

Djokovic will be competing at the Olympics for the fifth time in his career. He is aiming to clinch the elusive gold medal and has stated that he will not play in any form of doubles as he wants to focus on the singles.

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