Rafael Nadal insists Novak Djokovic will be the favorite when they meet at the Paris Olympics, after the Spaniard battled to victory over Marton Fucsovics in the first round on Sunday. Nadal left his participation in the singles in doubt until the last minute because of a thigh injury, and was forced to work hard for the 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 victory. The 38-year-old – who has won 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles on clay at Roland Garros – believes old rival Djokovic will be the favorite when they meet for the 60th time.
“The situations are completely different for him and me. He’s being very competitive. I wasn’t being very competitive in the last two years, so in that case I think he’s probably the clear favourite,” said Nadal, who holds a 8th place. -2 advantage in the direct confrontation over the Serbian at Roland Garros.
“I’m going to try my best to bring the best to the court and then we’ll see how far I can go and how many problems I can create for him.”
The latest chapter in a generation-defining rivalry, and perhaps the final act, will come full circle between Nadal and Djokovic – the pair met as teenagers in their first meeting in the Roland Garros quarter-finals in 2006.
Outside of the round-robin matches at the season-ending ATP Finals, the second-round meeting at the Olympics will be the first they have ever faced in a tournament.
“It was always very special to play against Novak, without a doubt,” said Nadal. “But the difference is that we normally play finals or semi-finals.
“Of course it’s an Olympics… every match is super special. But it’s true that, at the same time, in almost every match I played against Novak, I arrive with a different situation than I am today.
“It makes the game more difficult and more unpredictable for me. But I always have hope, I always believe.”
‘Fighting spirit’
Nadal, singles gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and doubles champion in Rio four years later, is playing only his seventh tournament in 2024.
He reached the final in Bastad last weekend but suffered a setback in training on Wednesday, jeopardizing his hopes of competing in a fifth Olympics.
Nadal joined Carlos Alcaraz in the doubles on Saturday but had his right thigh heavily bandaged as the pair won their first round match in straight sets.
His leg sported braces similar to Fucsovics’, but Nadal said he was feeling “fine”. “A little tired, of course. I mean, a long match, but at the same time… it was a good test,” Nadal said.
“The good thing is that I was able to play tennis at a good level for a while. That always gives hope. And the negative side is that I couldn’t maintain that excellent level.”
Fucsovics suggested the Spaniard still had what it takes to beat Djokovic, who leads his career head-to-head record 30-29.
“He fought until the end, so his fighting spirit is still at the top, but he is not at his best level of play,” Fucsovics said.
“But if he has a good day, he can still beat him (Djokovic).”
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