Djokovic vs Nadal set for Paris Olympics

Serbian tennis icon Novak Djokovic is set to take on 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in a highly anticipated second-round match at the Paris Olympics on Monday. The match is scheduled to begin at approximately 17:00 IST.

The meeting on Court Philippe-Chatrier will be the record-extending 60th ATP head-to-head clash between these two legends and their first meeting since the quarterfinals of the 2022 French Open, where Nadal secured victory. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam winner, currently leads the rivalry with a narrow 30-29 lead. In the previous round, Djokovic dominated Australian doubles specialist Matthew Ebden with a convincing 6-0, 6-1 victory, while Nadal defeated Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.

The history between the two runs deep, dating back to the semifinals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where Nadal emerged victorious to secure the gold, with Djokovic taking bronze. Nadal also won a gold medal in the men’s doubles with Marc Lopez at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The clay courts of Roland Garros have been particularly favourable for Nadal, who holds a record 14 French Open singles titles.

In the run-up to this tournament, Djokovic suffered a setback at Wimbledon, where he lost in the final to young Spanish talent Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz, who is also competing in the men’s singles and doubles in Paris, delivered a stunning straight-sets victory over Djokovic (6-2, 6-2, 7-6). In the doubles, Nadal and Alcaraz emerged victorious against Argentinians Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni with a 7-6, 6-4 victory.

(With input from agencies.)