Two days after serving as a torch bearer for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Rafael Nadal won his opening singles match to set up a showdown with a familiar opponent. Nadal defeated Hungarian Marton Fucsovics 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in the first round at Paris 2024 to book a matchup with Novak Djokovic in the second round. Djokovic won his opener on Saturday 6-0, 6-1 over Matthew Ebden of Great Britain.
The Nadal vs. Djokovic history couldn’t be tighter as Djokovic has 30 head-to-head wins while Nadal has 29. The 60 meetings between the two are the most ever between two men in the Open Era, which began in 1968 when the Grand Slam tournaments first allowed professionals to enter the events after previously only allowing amateurs.
While Djokovic holds the slimmest of edges in the all-time battle, he’s been no test for Nadal on clay, which is where this match will take place at Roland Garros, home of the French Open. Nadal, the record 14-time French Open champion, is 8-2 against Djokovic at Roland Garros, and he’s 20-8 all-time versus Djokovic on clay courts.
This won’t be the first Olympic meeting between the two greats. They also met in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Nadal was victorious in a semifinals match 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 en route to winning the gold medal. Djokovic would settle for bronze in that year’s games, as an Olympic gold is seemingly the only thing missing from his resume. He finished in fourth place at the 2012 Olympics, was knocked out of the first round at Rio 2016, and again finished fourth at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
“I’ve said it many times in the past, that’s one of my biggest dreams,” stated Djokovic. “Approaching Olympic Games is always a huge challenge for me because I put extra expectations and pressure on myself, and of course the nation as well. I’ve had pretty good Olympic tournaments except at Rio.
“The objective is always the highest one. I’m preparing myself for that.”
Despite Nadal’s utter dominance at Roland Garros, Djokovic can take solace in the fact that he’s had more success versus Nadal at the French Open than anyone else. Nadal sports a 112-4 all-time record at the French Open, but half of those defeats were to Djokovic. In 2015, Djokovic defeated Nadal 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 to end Nadal’s run of five straight French Open championships. Then, Djokovic beat Nadal again in 2021, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2 to end a run of four straight titles at the Grand Slam for Nadal. The Spaniard’s other defeats came versus Robin Soderling in 2009 and against Alexander Zverev just weeks ago at this year’s event.
It’s fitting that these two would meet on the clay courts of Roland Garros again, as their first-ever match also came at this venue at the 2006 French Open. Nadal was victorious in that semifinals meeting, and their last match was the very same setting. At the 2022 French Open, Nadal defeated Djokovic in the quarterfinals, as 56 of their 59 previous meetings were all in the quarterfinals or later of a tournament.
They both have a long way to reach that round of the 2024 Olympics, and just as Djokovic is aiming for the Career Golden Slam by winning a gold medal, Nadal is looking to make Olympic history of his own. He is seeking his second singles Olympic gold medal, which would join him with Andy Murray as the only player, male or female, with multiple singles gold medals. Murray’s quest to add to his count won’t continue as he withdrew from singles play to focus just on doubles in what will be his last tournament ever as he announced he will retire after the 2024 Olympics.
Speaking of doubles, Nadal is pulling double duty at these games as he’s teaming up with fellow countryman Carlos Alcaraz in men’s doubles. The Spaniards were victorious in straight sets in the opening round, which means Nadal will have more tread on his legs than Djokovic approaching their showdown, with the latter only participating in singles play. Additionally, the winner of Djokovic vs. Nadal could meet Alcaraz in the finals of Paris 2024 if they all advance. Djokovic is the top seed in the tournament, with Alcaraz seeded just behind him, while Nadal used his protected ranking to meet the Olympic qualification requirements.
