Nadal Downplays Djokovic Hype, Focuses on Olympic Journey
The Olympic Games in Paris commenced with a flurry of action, despite the inclement weather. Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek emerged victorious in their opening singles matches, while Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz made their highly anticipated doubles debut.
However, Nadal downplayed the hype surrounding a potential second-round clash with Djokovic. The prospect of a match-up between the two clay-court legends had ignited excitement among tennis enthusiasts. Djokovic himself described it as a “spectacle” and a “last dance.”
Nadal, however, remained cautious. He dismissed the notion of it being his final encounter with Djokovic, emphasizing that he still had to navigate his first-round match against Marton Fucsovics. Concerns had been raised about Nadal’s participation in singles due to an injury setback, but he appeared to be in good spirits during his doubles match with Alcaraz.
Nadal also expressed frustration with the scheduling of his singles match, which was set for 2:00 p.m. on Court Philippe Chatrier. “It’s outrageous to me,” he said.
Despite the scheduling hiccup, Nadal acknowledged the significance of his participation in the Opening Ceremony. He received the Olympic torch from French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane and passed it on to Serena Williams, Nadia Comaneci, and Carl Lewis.
“Yesterday was a super emotional moment for me,” Nadal said. “I’m still with the emotions very high. I’m just enjoying every single moment and let’s see what’s gonna happen.”
While the potential Djokovic-Nadal clash may not materialize, it is likely that this will be Nadal’s last Olympic appearance. The 38-year-old Spaniard expressed his gratitude for the honor of carrying the Olympic torch and his excitement for the tournament ahead.
