The initial standing ovation for Rafael Nadal from his fans was given to an image of him displayed on a video screen as he waited in a stadium hallway to enter the court for the Paris Olympics and the French Open, where he has had great success.
The crowd remained on their feet, some clapping and others taking photos with their phones as he stepped onto the familiar red clay surface. Chants of “Ra-fa! Ra-fa!” could be heard at times and many Spanish flags were seen in the stands as Nadal defeated Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in the first round on Sunday, setting up an exciting match against rival Novak Djokovic at the Summer Games. “It’s always special to play against Novak, but usually it’s in the finals or semifinals. This,” the 38-year-old Nadal chuckled, “is only the second round.” The match between these two greats, scheduled for Monday afternoon on Court Philippe Chatrier, will be their 60th meeting, the most of any two men in the Open era of tennis (which began in 1968).
Djokovic, a 37-year-old from Serbia, currently leads their head-to-head series 30-29 and his 24 Grand Slam titles make him the most successful male tennis player in history, just ahead of Nadal’s 22. Djokovic underwent knee surgery in June after sustaining an injury during the French Open, but has recovered well enough to reach the Wimbledon final two weeks ago, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz.
Meanwhile, Nadal has faced a series of injuries over the past two seasons, including a hip surgery in 2023, and had his right thigh taped during his match with Fucsovics. “Every time I’ve played against Novak, I’ve been in a different situation than I am today. That makes the match more difficult and unpredictable for me. But I always have hope, I always believe, and I will give it my best,” Nadal said.
Nadal made a last-minute decision to participate in the singles event, after winning in doubles with Alcaraz the day before, stating that he was unsure if he would compete in both events. “It’s always amazing when they play each other,” said Stan Wawrinka, who has won all three of his Grand Slam titles against either Nadal or Djokovic in the finals. “Two legends of the sport. It’s going to be a special match, for sure.”
Not only did Nadal play on Sunday, but at times, especially in the beginning and during crucial moments, he played like the Nadal everyone is used to seeing: the energetic, sliding, grunting star who has won 22 Grand Slams and Olympic gold medals for Spain in singles in 2008 and doubles in 2016. And the crowd loved it. “His fighting spirit is still at the top,” Fucsovics said. “He may not be playing at his best level, but on a good day, he can beat anyone.”
There was no way of knowing at the start if this would be Nadal’s last singles match at the Olympics, or in the stadium that has been so significant in his career, or even anywhere. He has been elusive when it comes to discussing retirement, even after stating in 2023 that he believed 2024 would be his final year. “Of course, I know that this may be the last time I play here. But maybe not. I cannot confirm because I don’t know,” Nadal said with a shrug.
After testing his fitness in a morning practice session, he made the decision to play, just 18 and a half hours after he and Alcaraz, Spain’s pairing of new and old tennis superstars, won their first match together in the doubles event. When Nadal and Fucsovics began their match under a clear sky with a slight breeze, there were cheers of “Ole!” from the crowd. Spectators stood up as Nadal took a 3-0 lead in just 13 minutes, dominating an outmatched Fucsovics, who is ranked 83rd.
Nadal expressed feeling the love from the fans and did not seem like someone ready to end his career, especially at the start of the match. In the second game, he sprinted and slid to hit a powerful backhand, impressing the audience. That’s exactly what it felt like: an audience captivated by a performance from someone whose talents are well-known. His relentless pursuit of every ball. His powerful left-handed forehand with a signature finishing pose. The grunts of exertion that accompany his swings. Naturally, Fucsovics’ career is no match for Nadal’s. He has reached one Grand Slam quarterfinal, at Wimbledon.
