As Rafael Nadal emerged into the brilliant daylight and the baking Paris warmth, the Spaniard sensed an surprising alternative to assert one of many biggest victories of his profession. By a quirk of destiny, the 38-year-old was handed the prospect to face his nice rival Novak Djokovic for a last time, on his fortress of Courtroom Philippe-Chatrier and the scene of his 14 French Open titles. For the previous two years, sidelined by accidents and pissed off by his physique, Nadal had waited for such a second, to face a fellow legend of his sport and relive his superb previous with a spirited last act.

As a substitute, because the sweat poured down his face, the King of Clay’s dream of a stirring last singles title at Roland Garros was destroyed by Djokovic, who saved his personal ambitions of claiming an elusive Olympics gold alive with a 6-1 6-4 win. For Nadal, the worth of being granted such a chance was the fact that victory was unlikely and a second-round exit totally attainable, even anticipated. Whereas he confirmed typical preventing spirit in together with his rallying fightback within the second set, Djokovic in the end displayed his superiority in successful 10 of the primary 11 video games of this Olympics blockbuster and subduing his rival’s late cost.

The “final dance” between Nadal and Djokovic was initially a ruthless procession and leaves a conclusive last mark to their document rivalry. After a sixtieth encounter, the ultimate rating when the mud finally settles will doubtless learn 31 wins to Djokovic and 29 to Nadal. Of their eleventh assembly in Paris, Djokovic claimed simply his third victory over Nadal on the Roland Garros clay, and one that will spell a tragic finish for the good Spaniard right here within the singles format after he had given every part in his comeback to gasoline one final run.

“Nicely, that’s a nasty efficiency,” concluded Nadal, whose Olympics hopes now relaxation alongside Carlos Alcaraz within the males’s doubles. “I didn’t play nicely, no. Clearly 6-1, 4-0, I performed the best way that he needed. I used to be not capable of push him again in any respect. Then the scenario modified slightly bit and made some issues slightly bit totally different. However typically he was a lot better than me, so I congratulate him.”

Not often within the sport’s historical past had a second-round match produced such a blockbuster affair, with 46 grand slam titles between them. Tennis can typically sit slightly awkwardly inside the nice present of the Olympics, the place different sports activities comparable to athletics, swimming and gymnastics take a deserved flip to sit down within the limelight. However there was no doubting the magnitude of what this Olympics meant to 2 legends of the game, in addition to a last probability to satisfy within the warmth of battle.

Nadal had barely performed since their final encounter, a late-night duel within the quarter-finals of the 2022 French Open, in what was the Spaniard’s final title. Whereas the 38-year-old has been disrupted by accidents and the inevitable actuality of his physique lastly struggling to match his intense want to compete, Djokovic, at 37, has managed to constantly problem for and win the most important titles within the sport.

Final month, Djokovic reached the Wimbledon last simply weeks after present process knee surgical procedure – after tearing his meniscus on this court docket virtually two months in the past – and though his defeat to Carlos Alcaraz was a humbling one, the Serbian instantly switched his focus to a renewed bid for the Olympic title, the one main competitors Djokovic has but to win. Curiously, for a participant who will doubtless end his profession having obliterated grand slam data, a single bronze medal at Beijing 2008 is all Djokovic has to indicate for his earlier 4 appearances on the Video games.

Regardless of Nadal’s document on Courtroom Philippe-Chatrier, the place he had gained eight of his 10 matches in opposition to Djokovic, the Spaniard admitted he was in “a special scenario”, his sport “unpredictable”. And within the opening phases, it confirmed. Whereas Nadal might nonetheless discover flashes, getting across the ball to open up his forehand to ship his opponent on the run with depraved angles, it was Djokovic who remained constant and accountable for the rallies. Djokovic turned to the drop shot, pulling Nadal from the baseline and out of place, and the break got here as Nadal clipped the net-cord together with his forehand, the ball touchdown out.

Djokovic then claimed the second break, absorbing Nadal’s forehand from the baseline and returning it with energy and precision when he had the prospect. Nadal framing his forehand on break level additional subdued the group’s early pleasure, as Djokovic launched a stinging backhand winner to win his fifth sport in a row. Whereas Nadal might finally get onto the board, saving himself from the attainable embarrassment of a bagel set, Djokovic instantly wrapped up the set as he impressively returned to the drop shot.

The break between units provided Nadal the prospect to reset, but his forehand remained extensively inconsistent, missing the facility and spin that for nearly 20 years made him near unbeatable on the Parisian clay. Djokovic roared as he once more jumped right into a 4-0 lead as Nadal slumped. And but, simply because it appeared there could be no let-off within the Serbian’s destruction, Nadal threatened an unlikely comeback; Djokovic conceding a break with a double fault that was roared enthusiastically by the group. Emboldened by new perception, Nadal attacked Djokovic with a forehand winner, then, within the level of the match, managed to scoop up a Djokovic smash that was directed into his ft to fireplace the passing winner, claiming the second consecutive break.

Again stage at 4-4, Courtroom Philippe-Chatrier shook, and did so once more as Nadal saved three break factors. And but, Djokovic remained sharper within the largest moments, recovering to interrupt again on the fourth try earlier than serving out victory with an ace. “Till 6-1, 4-0 I performed virtually the right match,” Djokovic mentioned, “Then 4 video games not so nice and he acquired in, he stepped in and the group acquired concerned. It was excessive stress moments however I managed to complete it off in two units. And I’m very happy with it.”

It’s what Djokovic does, he silences the group, he finds his stage when it counts. Nadal, although, used to dominate Roland Garros. On the finish, as he waved farewell, these days now look to be lastly over.