NOVAK Djokovic said he hopes to get more chances to play Rafael Nadal after beating his old rival in the second round of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday (29/7).
The 24-time Grand Slam champion won 10 of the first 11 games and threatened to inflict his heaviest defeat on Nadal in their 60th meeting, before eventually winning 6-1, 6-4.
Following the defeat, Nadal said he would decide his tennis future after the Olympics, when he will also play doubles with Carlos Alcaraz.
However, Djokovic, who first faced Nadal as teenagers at the 2006 French Open, said he wanted the rivalry between the pair to continue.
“There is no other rivalry in the history of tennis that involves 60 matches between two players. So I think that makes it very, very unique and very special,” Djokovic said, quoted Tuesday (30/7).
“I just hope for the sake of our rivalry and the sport in general, we can play each other one or maybe a few times, on different surfaces, in different parts of the world, because I think it would be a benefit to our sport.”
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“I don’t know how he feels about his body, what his plans are, but hopefully we can play more,” the Serb continued.
Djokovic said only time would tell whether the second-round match at the 2024 Paris Olympics would be his last against Nadal.
“We don’t know that. It really depends on a lot of different factors,” Djokovic said.
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“I mean, it depends on whether we both continue or whether we participate in the same tournament or not.”
“I think we both want to play in the Grand Slams and the biggest tournaments. I don’t know. We’ll probably be very selective,” added the 37-year-old.
There is no brotherhood
Their careers will forever be inextricably linked. However, Djokovic has dismissed the idea of a ‘brotherhood’ with Nadal, although he admits to his deep respect and admiration for the Spaniard.
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“It’s difficult to be close and honestly the greatest rivals, and you probably don’t want to give insight into your life or how you feel and stuff because it might expose you and stuff,” Djokovic said.
“I think that’s one of the reasons why we didn’t connect that closely and I don’t think on that level you can really connect that closely with anyone, but who knows when both of our careers are over.”
“Hopefully it’s a long life for both of us, and we’re both family people and hopefully we can address different aspects of our relationship and reflect on the things that we’ve been through together, the things that we’ve lived together, the special moments in different ways,” he added.
Djokovic’s victory avenged his defeat to Nadal in the 2008 Olympic semi-finals, when the Serb had to settle for bronze on his debut.
“It was an incredible match, the anticipation and excitement for this match was huge,” said Djokovic.
“I would probably say there’s more tension playing him at the Olympics, just because there’s the element of representing your country and being part of the Olympics, which is very rare — it only happens once every four years,” he concluded. (Ant/Z-1)
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