The classic par excellence in recent times in the history of tennis, the most passionate, the most exciting, with two of the giants of the so-called ‘big three’, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, faces a new dance, the penultimate?, at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with the Philippe Chatrier court at Roland Garros as the stage.
There is no place more devoted to the Balearic than the Parisian venue, which is devoted every time he takes to the track for one performance after another. The French fan resists the farewell that comes little by little to the fourteen-time winner there and that is why he is welcomed with unprecedented fervour.
It was evident both in the doubles he played with Carlos Alcaraz and in the singles against the Hungarian Marton Fucsovics, his debut in the singles draw. There was a moment when Nadal faltered and the shadow of farewell to Paris hovered over the main court of Roland Garros.
He cruised through the match, survived and advanced to face Novak Djokovic, who had been waiting since Saturday, when he comfortably took his first game against Australian Matthew Ebden.
Words from the Serbian
“I’ve already done my part. Now it’s his turn to do his,” said Djokovic, who was waiting for the Spaniard to improve before a new face-to-face on the court.
It is a classic clash between Nadal and Djokovic. It will be the sixtieth duel between the two. The first in more than two years, since they met in the semi-final of Roland Garros in 2022, the last one won by the king of clay in France, the winner of fourteen titles in Paris. The Serbian, second player in the world, has won thirty matches. Twenty-nine have gone to Nadal. If the Spaniard wins on Monday, in the last round of the morning session, the head-to-heads will be equal.
However, it now seems like an uneven duel. Djokovic, although he has not won any title in 2024, has regained his competitive pulse and is in Paris to achieve the only objective that remains for him, Olympic gold. The 37-year-old tennis player from Belgrade is in Paris with ambition and is eagerly awaiting Nadal.
Different rhythm
For the Balearic player it is something else. He has a different rhythm. He has barely played any matches and is going through the current year, presumably his farewell, with the need to accumulate matches, minutes on the court, moments of play. It is a question of sensations for the Balearic player who faces the match with caution and with an evident low profile.
“Djokovic is coming off the Wimbledon final and I’ve played very little. I would like to be in a better situation but it is what it is,” said Rafael Nadal.
The Spaniard has won eight of the ten matches he has played with Djokovic at Roland Garros, for whom the Paris 2024 match is something more important. “If inspiration comes to me, I’ll be working hard,” said the Balearic player after winning against the Hungarian Marton Fucsovics with more difficulty than expected.
Reality
“I played one of my best sets of the season but I couldn’t extend it, I wasn’t able to maintain my level,” Nadal said, adding that he will try to “enjoy the date with Djokovic which could have come at a better time.”
Nadal had doubts about facing the Paris 2024 singles tournament. After the doubles with Alcaraz, he left the possibility of playing singles up in the air due to discomfort in his right thigh. Even so, he went on court against Fucsovics, whom he beat in three sets. He meets Djokovic in the most anticipated duel of recent times.
Paris / EFE
#Nadal #Djokovic #penultimate #dance #place #Paris #singles #event
2024-07-29 08:37:56
