In order to win their Olympic second-round encounter and advance in his quest for the elusive gold medal, Novak Djokovic defeated his longtime rival Rafael Nadal.
During the most of their one-sided match, which he won 6-1 6-4 on the Roland Garros clay, Serbia’s 37-year-old Djokovic appeared to be on a different level than Nadal.
The 38-year-old Rafael Nadal battled back to erase the double break after Djokovic had led 4-0 in the second set to dampen the passionate support for the Spaniard.
However, as we have witnessed so often, Djokovic applied more pressure to break for a 5-4 lead and close off the match.
“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.”
Nadal, known as the King of Clay, has won 14 French Open titles at the Olympic venue but the aura he carries there was not enough to trouble a man of Djokovic’s quality.
The pair, who have won 46 Grand Slam singles titles between them, shared an embrace at the net before Djokovic sportingly clapped Nadal off the court.
It was the 60th meeting of their enduring rivalry – no two men have ever played each other more.
After first meeting in 2006, Djokovic now leads 31-29 in their head to head.
“I never thought back in 2006 that we’d still be playing each other almost 20 years later,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic has won everything there is to win in men’s singles tennis – including 24 Grand Slam titles across the four majors and every ATP Masters event.
But the Olympic title is the one which he still has not won – and the one he really craves.
The top seed produced arguably his highest level of the season to make the fast start which rocked 2008 gold medallist Nadal.
Nadal, who had a thigh injury heavily strapped again, was a shadow of the player who has won 22 majors and could not cope with Djokovic’s quality until the late resistance.
Nadal will return to Roland Garros – where he has a metallic statue paying tribute to his achievements – on Tuesday when he plays for Spain in the men’s doubles alongside reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.
What happens after that remains to be seen.
Nadal has barely played over the past two seasons because of injuries and hinted last year he could retire at the end of the 2024 season.
This could have been the last time the former world number one played singles on Court Philippe Chatrier, even though he has subsequently stated he intends to continue playing as long as his body allows him.
Whatever transpires, it’s quite likely that Djokovic and Nadal will never again engage in a competitive rivalry on a tennis court.