Djokovic and Nadal deal with Olympic followers to a scintillating match in Paris : NPR

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, proper, shakes fingers with Spain’s Rafael Nadal after the 2 confronted off within the Paris Olympics — their sixtieth matchup total. Nadal has been battling accidents for years, however he rallied for quite a few dramatic factors in entrance of an appreciative crowd at Court docket Philippe-Chatrier on the Roland-Garros Stadium.

Martin Mernetti/AFP through Getty Photos

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Martin Mernetti/AFP through Getty Photos

Tennis followers don’t at all times flock to a second-round Olympic match. However when the match options Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Within the newest — and maybe final — installment of one of many sport’s best rivalries, spectators got here early to pack the home.

That’s what occurred Monday when Nadal, 38, and Djokovic, 37 — respectively the No. 2 and No. 1 all-time grand slam winners in males’s singles — confirmed why their matches have at all times been must-see occasions.

Within the sixtieth matchup of their rivalry, the superstars dug into their wizards’ baggage of pictures to amaze the gang in Paris at Court docket Philippe-Chatrier within the Roland-Garros advanced. And whereas the early momentum was solidly in Djokovic’s favor, Nadal made a late run within the second set, successful consecutive video games and placing a cost right into a gleeful crowd earlier than in the end falling 6-1, 6-4.

The 2 tennis greats laced successful pictures from far exterior the web; balls dropped into corners as in the event that they had been laser-guided, fizzing with spin-rates by no means seen at your common nation membership.

Djokovic repeatedly broke his arch-rival’s serve and was threatening to run the desk within the first set earlier than Nadal’s backhand — which appeared suspect within the early going — delivered a winner down the road. Nadal used that momentum to win his first sport, 1-5, and forestall what then appeared an inevitable second-round exit.

Whereas Djokovic dictated play within the early going, Nadal — enjoying underneath an indication bearing Roland Garros’ well-known motto, “Victory belongs to essentially the most tenacious” — briefly took management within the second body to place Djokovic getting ready to shedding serve and his four-game edge within the set.

And when Nadal managed to not solely return an overhead slam from Djokovic however convert it into an ingenious cross-court winner seconds later, the followers erupted in delirium. With the rating knotted at 4 video games apiece, absolutely they may hope to see a 3rd set, if solely to maintain watching these two legends placed on a clinic of tennis brilliance.

At occasions, Nadal, who performed together with his proper thigh closely taped, gave the impression to be battling his personal physique, exhibiting frustration after badly mis-hitting pictures that had been as soon as the equal of layups for him (if, admittedly, for nobody else).

However the Spaniard — the uncommon world No. 161 who performs in footwear bearing his first identify — was additionally in a position to rally to win a number of pivotal, dramatic moments. And if Nadal was to see even a short renaissance, the place higher than Roland-Garros, the place he has received a document 14 French Open titles?

For his half, Djokovic bounced again from Nadal’s shot-making to revive consistency and hit winners of his personal, together with a number of aces. He discovered winners by mixing his rifle-like forehand with a feather-soft backhand drop shot that expired meekly after clearing the web. Djokovic received the subsequent two video games briefly order and put an finish to the unlikely concept that Nadal may one way or the other have the ability to get previous the Serbian.

When the match ended after a stirring 1 hour 43 minutes, Nadal gave a wry smile as he and Djokovic approached the web for a heat hug and transient chat. Then they took turns applauding the stands.

The gang may very well be forgiven for wanting extra, however they confirmed gratitude for what they acquired, giving a standing ovation to the 2 stars who lit up Roland-Garros for probably the final time collectively.

Djokovic advances to the third spherical as he pursues one of many solely accolades that has eluded him: an Olympic gold medal in singles tennis.

For Nadal, his focus will flip to males’s doubles event, the place he’s paired with 21-year-old star Carlos Alcaraz.