Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns the ball during the first round singles tennis match against Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Photo: AP | PTI
Rafael Nadal decided at the last minute to play in the singles at the Paris Olympics on Sunday and won his first-round match against Marton Fucsovics 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. That set him up for a huge spectacle against rival Novak Djokovic.
Nadal was greeted with a standing ovation from the crowd, many of whom had used their phone cameras to capture the moment he stepped onto Court Philippe Chatrier, the same stadium where he won a record 14 French Open titles.
A statue of Nadal stands outside the arena, and fans gathered around the steel structure on Sunday morning, although it was unclear whether he would compete later in the day.
The 38-year-old Spaniard not only played, but also at times, particularly early and in decisive moments, played like the version of himself everyone is used to seeing: the sprinting, sliding, grunting star who has a total of 22 Grand Slam trophies to his name and won Olympic gold medals for Spain in singles in 2008 and doubles in 2016.
And the audience enjoyed it and treated him to a chant of his nickname, Ra-fa! Ra-fa!, accompanied by his clapping.
Nadal said Saturday night, after winning a first-round doubles match with Carlos Alcaraz, that he was unsure whether he would play in the singles. Nadal has dealt with a series of injuries over the past two seasons, including hip surgery in 2023, and had his right thigh taped on Sunday. He had to have a finger on his right hand treated by a trainer in the third set.
Nadal went to the morning training to test his fitness and decided to play against Fucsovics, much to the delight of the spectators in the stands who waved red and yellow Spanish flags.
MEDAL COUNT Olympic Games Paris 2024
Nadal and Alcaraz, the old and new Spanish tennis superstar duo, won their first match together as a doubles team on Saturday, knocking out Argentinians Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 7-6 (4), 6-4.
About 18 1/2 hours later, Nadal was back on court to face Fucsovics.
Nadal has not yet made it clear whether the Summer Games will be the final event of his illustrious career. However, there has been much speculation that this will be the case, given his recent health problems, including hip surgery last year.
In the second round, Nadal will face Djokovic, a 37-year-old Serb. It will be their 60th meeting, more than any other two men have faced each other in the Open era, which began in 1968. Djokovic leads the head-to-head series 30-29.
With his 24 Grand Slam titles, Dojokovic is the only man in tennis history with more titles than Nadal.
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First print: Jul 29, 2024 | 09:19 AM IST