Written by Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Monday, July 29, 2024
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Receiving a rousing applause from the fans of the Court of Philippe Chatrier, emotions Rafael Nadal he stood, spun and waved to the appreciative Parisian crowd.
Top seeds Novak Djokovic swept 10 of the first 11 games and withstood Nadal’s late charge to beat the Olympic 6-1, 6-4 in the second round at Roland Garros today.
More: Nadalcaraz Win Olympic Opener
The 60th episode of the most intense rivalry in ATP history ended with Djokovic scoring his 31st win over Nadal in almost 18 years when they met for the first time.
Is this Olympic encounter the end of an era and the final singles match of Nadal’s illustrious career?
“I swear I can’t think about it all day,” Nadal told reporters in Paris. “I come here and you ask me the same thing every day and in the end it is very difficult to find the right level if I think about whether I retire or not.
“I am coming out of two very difficult years with many physical problems that do not allow me to continue. That is why I gave myself more time to see if I was able to restore many things but if you keep asking me about retirement it is not possible. because you always have a fly behind your ear that does not allow you to develop what you need to give yourself a real option.”
While Nadal is alive in doubles Olympics with Roland Garros Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz and is on the US Open and Laver Cup shortlists, he said the 2024 season could be his last on the pro circuit.
¡VAMOS 🇪🇸❤️🔥!
Nadal equalized 0-4 in the second set before public delirium #Paris2024#ElCorazónDeEspaña I #tennis| #Olympics
🎥@Eurosport_ES pic.twitter.com/fkhlt1qdAe– Tenis España (@RFETenis) July 29, 2024
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, said today that he will decide to retire after the Paris Olympics.
“I’m trying to look forward and when the Olympics are over I will make the decisions I have to make in accordance with the desire and feeling I have, although for many it makes no sense,” said Nadal to the media in Paris. “I’ve been traumatized for two years, I had hip surgery, I’ve been recovering for a long time and now I’m physically better.
“Obviously if I feel like I’m not competing I’ll decide to leave, but I played a bit to be honest. It’s not easy to recover from hip surgery.”
Former world number 1 Nadal said he is determined to continue his partnership with Nadalcaraz twice and Alcaraz in pursuit of a third gold medal at the Paris Games.
“I’m fine, there’s no problem with that,” said Nadal. “I had a little bit of a bad shot five days ago in the abductor longus because the fiber jumped but it was a very minor injury that I allowed myself to play with.
“It wasn’t a problem and I’m happy to play doubles tomorrow and do well”.
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