July 29, (THEWILL) – Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal in straight sets at the Paris Olympics on Monday, advancing to the third round with a 6-1 6-4 victory.
The match, held at Roland Garros, saw the 37-year-old Serbian overwhelm his long-time rival and 14-time French Open champion.
Djokovic, holder of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, displayed his dominance early in the match. He raced to a 6-1 4-0 lead, employing a mix of powerful groundstrokes and well-placed drop shots that tested the 38-year-old Spaniard’s mobility and endurance.
Nadal, known for his remarkable performances at this venue, mounted a comeback in the second set. He levelled the score at 4-4, igniting hopes among the home crowd for an extended battle between these tennis giants. However, Nadal’s resurgence proved short-lived.
Despite his efforts, the former world number one struggled to maintain the precision and consistency required at this level of competition. Djokovic regained control of the match, ultimately securing victory on his first match point with an ace.
This Olympic encounter marked the 60th meeting between Djokovic and Nadal, extending their record for the most matches played between two players in men’s professional tennis. While Djokovic continues his quest for an Olympic gold medal, Nadal’s performance raised questions about his future at the highest level of the sport, especially with the injuries he has had to contend with and his age.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
