The audience’s sympathies are likely to lie with Nadal. The Spaniard, the record winner of the French Open with 14 triumphs, was already constantly celebrated with loud “Rafa, Rafa” chants against Fucsovics in Roland Garros.
In the second set, Nadal came back from a 2:5 deficit, but had to accept the set equalizer on his own serve. In the third set, the 38-year-old Spaniard, who also competes in the doubles with young star Carlos Alcaraz, managed the decisive break to make it 3:2. Nadal had bandaged his right thigh. Due to the injury, there had been a small question mark over his singles start until the end. Nadal won 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles in Paris. He has won two gold medals at the Olympics so far – in singles in 2008 and in doubles in 2016.