By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Monday, July 29, 2024
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Absorbing the rousing ovation Court Philippe Chatrier fans, an emotional Rafael Nadal stopped, spun and waved to the appreciative Paris crowd.
Top seeded Novak Djokovic cruised through 10 of the first 11 games then fended off a late charge from Nadal scoring a 6-1, 6-4 Olympic second-round win at Roland Garros today.
More: Nadalcaraz Win Olympic Opener
Episode 60 of the most prolific rivalry in ATP history concluded with Djokovic scoring his 31st win over Nadal nearly 18 years after they faced off for the first time.
Is this Olympic encounter the end of an era and the final singles match of Nadal’s glorious career?
“I swear I can’t be thinking about it all day,” Nadal told the media in Paris. “I come here and you ask me the same thing every day and in the end it is very difficult to recover an optimal level if I think about whether I retire or not.
“I come from two very difficult years with many physical problems that have not allowed me to have continuity. That’s why I’ve given myself extra time to see if I was able to recover many things but if you always ask me about retirement it’s impossible because you’re always with the fly behind your ear that doesn’t let you develop what you need to give yourself the real option.”
While Nadal is still alive in Olympic doubles play alongside reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz and is also on the US Open entry list and the Laver Cup entry list, he has said this 2024 season is likely his last on the pro circuit.
¡VAMOS 🇪🇸❤️🔥!
Nadal iguala un 0-4 en contra en el segundo set ante el delirio del público en #Paris2024#ElCorazónDeEspaña I #tennis| #Olympics
🎥@Eurosport_ES pic.twitter.com/fkhlt1qdAe— Tenis España (@RFETenis) July 29, 2024
The 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal said today he will make a retirement decision after the Paris Olympics.
“I try to look ahead and when the Olympics are over I will make the decisions I have to make based on the desire and sensations I have, although for many it makes little sense,” Nadal told the media in Paris. “I’ve been suffering for two years, I’ve had hip surgery, I’ve been recovering for a long time and now I’m feeling better physically.
“Obviously if I feel that I am not competitive I will make the decision to leave, but I have played little to be honest. It’s not easy to recover from hip surgery.”
Former world No. 1 Nadal said he’s pumped to continue his Nadalcaraz doubles partnership with Alcaraz in pursuit of a third Olympic gold medal at these Paris Games.
“I’m fine, no problem in that sense,” Nadal said. “I had a small negative image five days ago in the long abductor because a fiber jumped but it was a very small injury that I have allowed myself to play.
“It has not been a problem and I am excited to play the doubles tomorrow and do well”.
