Nadal and Djokovic Confront Time and a New Generation at the Olympics

Nadal and Djokovic Confront Time and a New Generation at the Olympics

PARIS – Rafael Nadal prepares for his Olympic farewell on the iconic clay courts of Roland Garros, the venue of his greatest triumphs. Concurrently, Novak Djokovic seeks to extend tennis's golden era's legacy.

 

With 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles won in Paris, Nadal faces the ticking clock at 38. Recently, he endured his earliest exit from the French Open, and a career marked by relentless injuries has dropped his ranking to 161. Consequently, Nadal enters the Olympics unseeded and could clash with top-seeded Djokovic as early as the second round, marking their 60th encounter.

 

"Roland Garros is the most special place in the world of tennis for me," Nadal remarked. His Olympic accolades include singles gold in Beijing 2008 and double gold with Marc Lopez in Rio 2016. Djokovic leads their head-to-head 30-29, but Nadal has dominated their Roland Garros matchups, winning eight of ten, including their last meeting in the 2022 quarterfinals.

 

Nadal's first opponent in Paris is Hungary's 83rd-ranked Marton Fucsovics.

 

Djokovic, despite his illustrious career, has struggled at the Olympics, with only a bronze from Beijing. He arrives in Paris after a straight-sets defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, thwarting his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title. Without a title since the previous year's ATP Finals, 2024 has been underwhelming by his standards. Jannik Sinner succeeded him as Australian Open champion and world No. 1, while Alcaraz claimed the French Open title.

 

Djokovic, starting against unranked Australian Matthew Ebden, can still draw confidence from his three French Open titles in 2016, 2021, and 2023. With Roger Federer retired, Nadal nearing the end of his career, and Andy Murray set to retire post-Olympics, Djokovic faces a rising generation led by Alcaraz and Sinner.

 

The pressure mounts for Djokovic, especially if he fails to defend his U.S. Open title in September, potentially marking the first year in 22 without a Grand Slam win from the Big Four. Alcaraz, already with four Grand Slam titles, debuts in the Olympics against Lebanon's 275th-ranked Hady Habib. He and Nadal will pair up in doubles for the first time, possibly facing Murray later in the tournament.

 

Murray, Olympic gold medalist in 2012 and 2016, will conclude his career in Paris, opting for doubles with Dan Evans after surgery thwarted his singles comeback.

 

Defending Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, seeded third, faces Spain's Jaume Munar. Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev, competing as a neutral due to geopolitical tensions, meets Australia's Rinky Hijikata. Japan's Kei Nishikori and Taro Daniel represent their nation's hopes, with Nishikori taking on Britain's Jack Draper and Daniel facing sixth-seeded Casper Ruud of Norway.

 

In women's singles, world No. 1 Iga Swiatek returns to Roland Garros, the site of her fourth French Open triumph, to face Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu. At 23, Swiatek, ousted early in Tokyo three years ago, is favored for gold. U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff, absent from Tokyo due to COVID-19, confronts Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic.

 

Like Murray, former world No. 1 Angelique Kerber of Germany will retire post-Games. The 36-year-old silver medalist from Rio 2016 faces four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in a first-round match of former champions. Japan's Moyuka Uchijima meets Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in her opening match.

 

The Olympic tennis tournament commences on Saturday.