Paris Olympics 2024, Tennis Day 3 Highlights: Rafael Nadal loses against Novak Djokovic; Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek win

Rafael Nadal will face Novak Djokovic for the 60th time, Iga Swiatek and Jasmine Paolini will also be in action at the Paris Olympics 2024.

Novak Djokovic wrapped up his first-round match inside 55 minutes, dominating in what was a complete mismatch. Matthew Ebden, a last-minute addition to the singles draw, found himself utterly outclassed against the 24-time Grand Slam champion. Facing World No. 2 after not playing singles for the past two years is an exceptionally daunting task for any player.

The scoreline read 6-0, 6-1, an impression of the Serb’s masterclass against the Aussie. While this was just a mere warm-up, Djokovic would be pleased to have found some much-needed rest ahead of what should be a hectic schedule for him. However, in his second round, he will compete against the 22-time Grand Slam champion and his arch-rival, Rafael Nadal.

Nadal is competing in two events at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He won his doubles match alongside Carlos Alcaraz, a contest in which he impressed one and all with his remarkable cross-court backhands and precise volleys at the net. There were certainly no glimpses of the highly speculated thigh injury during the doubles match.

However, in his singles contest against Marton Fucsovics, he certainly seemed to be well short of his best. That didn’t stop him from getting the better of his Hungarian counterpart, though, as he engaged in a hard-fought three-setter to claim the victory. He will now take on the Serb in what will be the 38-year-old’s third match in three consecutive days.

Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal match details

Date: July 29, 2024 (Monday)

Time: 5:00 PM IST (Tentatively)

Venue: Stade Roland Garros, Paris

Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal preview

“One last dance,” said Djokovic ahead of this blockbuster clash between two legends of the game. While it’s disappointing to know that only one of these icons will advance to the forthcoming rounds, tennis fans will consider it a privilege to witness the two most successful men’s singles players battle it out, possibly for the last time.

The “King of Clay” is nowhere near his best, but big games tend to bring out the best in certain players and Nadal is no exception. However, playing three consecutive matches at the age of 38 is no joke. The Spaniard has already criticized the organizers, taking them to task for the poor scheduling.

Djokovic, on the other hand, played less than an hour of tennis in his first-round match and will be as fresh as ever. While he is aware of Nadal’s resilience and fighting spirit, he is not expected to back down. The crowd will undoubtedly be rooting for the 14-time French Open winner, which will only motivate Djokovic to silence his critics yet again.

Head-to-Head records

Matches: 59

Novak Djokovic: 30

Rafael Nadal: 29

The difference in margin between the two is an indicator of the duo’s intense rivalry over the years. They last met at the 2022 French Open, where the Spaniard got the better of the Serb in four sets.

Where and how to watch live streaming and TV broadcast of Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic, the 2024 Paris Olympics second-round match in India?

The live telecast of the Paris 2024 Olympics will be available on the Sports 18 network. Fans can also enjoy free live streaming of the quadrennial event on the Jio Cinema app.

Prediction

Djokovic vs. Nadal. A match that tennis fans would have flown to Paris to witness had they known a week prior to the start of the Games. The world will come to a halt when these two legends take the court. Nobody wants to miss it, especially when it might be the last time we witness these two legends face off.

Out of their 59 past meetings, Nadal has often entered the match as the favorite, particularly at Roland Garros. However, the beauty of time is that it moves on, and this time, it will be the Serbian who enters the clash as the player to beat.

Eyeing his first-ever Olympic gold, Djokovic will be keen to avenge his 2008 semi-final loss to the Spaniard. Despite being less than fully fit and not at his best, the 38-year-old is expected to give his all and make Djokovic toil hard for a spot in the third round. After all, if there’s one person you never want to bet against, it’s the 22-time Grand Slam Champion, Rafael Nadal.

Prediction: Novak Djokovic to win in three sets

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