Rafael Nadal appears ready to forgo a highly anticipated Olympic singles showdown with Novak Djokovic, focusing instead on his doubles campaign with Spanish compatriot Carlos Alcaraz. This decision comes as Nadal battles a thigh injury sustained during training at Roland Garros, where he has celebrated 14 of his 22 Grand Slam victories.
Nadal, 38, effectively ruled himself out of the singles tournament, despite being listed to face Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics on Sunday, with Djokovic lying in wait. The Serbian world number two had completed his part of the draw earlier on Saturday with a dominant straight-sets victory over Australia’s Matthew Ebden.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen; I don’t know if I am going to play tomorrow or not,” Nadal commented. “I will talk to my people and make the smartest decision that I can to have the best chance of bringing a medal home, so let’s see.”
Nadal, a singles gold medallist in 2008 and doubles champion in Rio eight years later, has had a career marred by injuries and is participating in only his seventh tournament this year. Consequently, his singles ranking has fallen to 161.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his singles participation, Nadal and Alcaraz, playing together for the first time, secured a 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 victory over Argentina’s Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni in their doubles opener on Saturday. This victory marked a promising start for the duo, enhancing Spain’s medal hopes.
Carlos Alcaraz, who had earlier enjoyed a stellar start to his Olympic journey, swept aside Lebanon’s Hady Habib, the world number 275, in just 70 minutes, winning 6-3, 6-1. “It was an incredible experience, the energy of the crowd was crazy,” said the third-ranked Alcaraz, who recently won the French Open on the same court.
On the other side of the draw, Novak Djokovic, chasing his first Olympic gold to complement his 24 Grand Slam titles, made quick work of Australia’s Matthew Ebden, defeating him 6-0, 6-1 in just 53 minutes under the roof of Court Philippe Chatrier. Djokovic expressed his anticipation for potentially facing Nadal again, acknowledging that it could be their last encounter on the big stage.
“I’ve always enjoyed our battles. If we face each other, it’s possibly going to be for the last time on the big stage,” Djokovic remarked.
Saturday’s play was marred by torrential rain, allowing only 10 matches to be completed as the weather washed away any hope of action on the outside courts. However, under the protection of the roofs, other notable matches proceeded.
Daniil Medvedev, the fourth-seeded Russian former world number one playing as a neutral, defeated Rinky Hijikata in straight sets on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Meanwhile, women’s world number one Iga Swiatek battled to a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Irina-Camelia Begu, making a strong return to the court where she clinched her fourth French Open title last month. Swiatek, 23, admitted feeling more nervous due to the different atmosphere compared to her previous appearances.
Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, who was easily defeated by Swiatek in the French Open final, also advanced to the second round with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Romania’s Ana Bogdan. The night session concluded with a notable match as Angelique Kerber defeated Naomi Osaka, a four-time major winner, 7-5, 6-3. Kerber, 36, a former world number one and three-time Grand Slam champion, announced her retirement plans from tennis after the Games. “The last dance is not quite over,” said the German, signaling her farewell tour.
As Nadal contemplates his participation in the singles event, the focus shifts to his partnership with Alcaraz, with hopes of Olympic glory for Spain riding on their shoulders.
