S.Kannan in Paris
It was a (mis) match at the Roland Garros. This is the venue Rafael Nadal claimed to be his own, until 2022. Next year, injuries forced him out of the French Open. He came back this summer and flopped. On Monday, on the show court the Spaniard ruled, he was hunted down by the wily, old Novak Djokovic 6-1, 6-4 in a second round match of the Paris Olympics.
To say the stands were packed to the rafters would be stating the obvious. By tennis standards, both Nadal and Djokovic are old, yet one man stays younger. The Serbian has also had his share of fitness issues, with the same clay court resulting in a knee injury for him during the 2024 French Open. He had to undergo an emergency surgery and then made a comeback which was faster than his serve.
Most recently, Djokovic, despite the elastic support on his operated right knee, has been playing tennis as well as he can. That Carlos Alcaraz chewed him up in the Wimbledon final made for sad viewing.
Back to clay, which is Rafa’s favourite surface, fans had lined up for him from the morning. Sunshine was glorious and fans loved watching the two men, sporting red T-shirts, produce tennis which was contrasting in nature.
Djokovic knows he can still play at a high level, and this was the 60th duel between them. One man was playing to win, from Serbia, and the Spaniard, at 38, was attempting to turn the clock back. Well, for a brief phase in the second set, Nadal fought back to make it 4-4.
Fans loved it and this was ideal for TRP as well, since TV broadcast at the Olympics is also about raking in money. But once Djokovic got the break and zoomed ahead to win the second set 6-4, Nadal looked sad. He packed his bag, waved to the crowd and went inside the tunnel, back to the locker room.
Different emotions for Rafa fans and Novak fans! They were the best at one time. Not any longer. Novak can still pack a punch, he is hungry, though in the path ahead he will face Alcaraz.
As for memories from Nadal, a lot many fans would prefer to remember his 14 wins on the same surface at the same venue during the French Open campaigns. Monday was painful viewing.
Nadal will team up with Alcaraz in doubles and hope it will be better. These are, possibly, his last few days in an illustrious career. If the Spaniard delays retirement, it will hurt him more, and his fans as well.