Rashi Mehta
The draw for tennis at the Paris 2024 Olympics has set the stage for a potential blockbuster second-round match between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. The action at Roland Garros, where Nadal is a 14-time French Open champion, will take place on clay for the first time since the 1992 Olympics.
Nadal and Djokovic, who have both been eyeing deep runs in the tournament, could meet if Djokovic defeats Australian Matthew Ebden and Nadal overcomes Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in their opening matches. Djokovic leads their head-to-head 30-29 from their 59 encounters, but Nadal has a dominant 20-8 record on clay, including a victory over Djokovic at the French Open in 2022.
This potential clash would not be their first Olympic meeting. Nadal defeated Djokovic at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, where Nadal went on to win gold in the men’s singles. Djokovic, who won bronze in 2008 but finished fourth in London and Tokyo, will view Paris 2024 as his final chance to secure Olympic gold.
Notably, Andy Murray’s withdrawal from the singles event to focus on doubles with Dan Evans could have altered the draw. Murray’s withdrawal allowed Ebden to replace him, setting up a challenging first-round match against the 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic.
Nadal, who missed the grass-court season this year to prepare for the Olympics, recently made his return by reaching the final of the Swedish Open after a two-month hiatus.
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