Olympics
Djokovic races past Nadal
July 30, 2024 00:00:00
Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacting after winning against Spain's Rafael Nadal during their men's singles second round tennis match on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Stadium at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Paris on Monday — Reuters
PARIS, July 29 (AFP): Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal at the Olympic Games on Monday, claiming a 6-1, 6-4 victory in the pair's 60th and potentially last meeting.
It was 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic's 31st win in a rivalry which began on the same Roland Garros clay courts in 2006.
Nadal was largely outclassed in the much anticipated encounter, only coming briefly to life when he won four games in a row in the second set.
"I'm very relieved," said Djokovic. "Everything was going my way, I was 6-1, 4-0 up but I played a sloppy service game and gave him chances."
He added: "I never thought back in 2006 that we'd still be playing each other almost 20 years later."