On Monday, two titans of men’s tennis went head-to-head for what might be their final showdown at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Novak Djokovic, holding the record for the most men’s singles Grand Slam titles at 24, faced off against Rafael Nadal, who has clinched 22 titles.
The 37-year-old Djokovic, the current world No. 2 and the tournament’s top seed, triumphed over 38-year-old Nadal in straight sets: 6-1, 6-4, during their second-round match. This victory marks Djokovic’s 60th match against Nadal, boosting his overall record to 31-29.
Despite Monday’s defeat, Nadal still dominates when they play on clay courts, leading 20-9 in their encounters on that surface, while Djokovic takes the lead on hard courts with a 20-7 record. They’re even on grass at 2-2.
Nadal holds a slight edge in Grand Slam face-offs, winning 11 out of 18 matches against Djokovic.
After an impressive run to his first singles final in two years at the Nordea Open, Nadal had hopes of snagging a second gold medal at this year’s Olympics. Instead, his shot at Olympic glory now lies in men’s doubles, where he has teamed up with 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, the world No. 3 and winner of the last two Grand Slam events.
Nadal previously earned his only singles Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games and won gold in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in men’s doubles with Marc López.
Addressing whether this could be his last match against Djokovic, Nadal expressed uncertainty, stating, “I can’t live every day thinking it might be my last match. I’m here to give it my all. When I decide to stop or keep going, I’ll let you know.”
Nadal has been coping with a right thigh injury during the Olympics, making his performance challenging. “Facing Novak without the legs of my 20s is almost impossible,” he acknowledged.
Djokovic, on his part, remains hopeful for future encounters, emphasizing the benefits of their rivalry for tennis and fans alike. “It depends on various factors, but I hope we can face each other again on different surfaces around the world— it can only enhance the sport,” he said.