Novak Djokovic produced a stunning performance to knock Rafael Nadal out of the Olympics – and in the process, he did something that he’s not managed to do since 2015.
Djokovic has endured a pretty tough 2024. He’s not won any of the three major tournaments that have been played and was thrashed in the Wimbledon final by Carlos Alcaraz.
Now he has two tournaments to save his year – the Olympics taking place at Roland Garros and the US Open which gets underway next month at Flushing Meadows.
Djokovic threatened to really blow Nadal away during their 60th encounter, winning the first 6-1 and racing into a 4-0 lead in the second set before a mini comeback by the Spaniard.
In sending Nadal packing, Djokovic managed to do something that he’s not managed to achieve since 2015.
Novak Djokovic did something vs Rafael Nadal that he’s not done since 2015
This relates to the scoreline of the first set – 6-1 to Nadal – and it’s not been a common scoreline for Djokovic when playing the 14-time winner of the French Open.
Not since 2015 has the 37-year-old won a set against Nadal 6-1 at Roland Garros, with the Serb claiming that feat in the French Open.
The last time he took a set off Nadal 6-1 anywhere came in 2016 when the two giants of the game met on hard courts in Doha.
Djokovic will now move on to the next round at the Olympics as he bids to win a gold medal and end his barren run this year.
Nadal was no match for Djokovic today and now he will need to focus on winning a gold medal with Carlos Alcaraz in the doubles competition.
Djokovic could set up huge Olympics clash with Carlos Alcaraz
Let’s face it, this is what the fans want to see at Roland Garros and that’s not being disrespectful to the other players in the field.
Alcaraz simply destroyed Djokovic at Wimbledon on a surface that he calls his best – and the Serbian star will still be smarting from that performance.
Alcaraz is in the other half of the draw and much like Djokovic, he’s chasing a first gold medal at the Olympics too.
Both players have had some classic matches already in Alcaraz’s young career and hopefully, the crowd at Roland Garros get to see what they were robbed of at the French Open this year.
The tournament draws to a conclusion in early August and from a tennis perspective, we desperately hope it’s Djokovic taking on Nadal in the gold medal match.
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