By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Monday, July 29, 2024
Picture credit score: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have come collectively to create main historical past and rivalry revelry.
The highest-seeded Djokovic cruised by means of 10 of the primary 11 video games then withstood a late cost sweeping Nadal 6-1, 6-4 of their record-extending sixtieth profession conflict on the Olympics on Roland Garros’ purple clay at the moment.
Extra: Nadalcaraz Win Olympic Opener
Episode 60 of probably the most prolific rivalry in ATP historical past concluded with Djokovic scoring his thirty first win over Nadal practically 18 years after they confronted off for the primary time.
After a post-match embrace, the Grand Slam king shared his want for the King of Clay.
Djokovic hopes he and Nadal will face off once more in a Grand Slam, however conceded this match might have closed the curtain on their epic rivalry.
“It might be the case however we do not know,” Djokovic stated when requested if this was the ultimate conflict between the enduring champions. “It relies on lots of elements, particularly if we proceed and if we take part in the identical tournaments. I feel we each wish to play the Grand Slams and the large tournaments. I do not know, we could also be very selective. Nicely, that is what I’ll do on my aspect.”
When 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic and 22-time main title holder Nadal sq. off, your complete sports activities world watches.
The electrical power reverberating all through Court docket Philippe Chatrier is an expertise Djokovic hopes to really feel once more going through his rival Nadal throughout the web.
“I hope, for the sake of our rivalry and the game generally, that we’ll play one another once more a number of instances on completely different surfaces, elsewhere on the earth,” Djokovic instructed the media in Paris. “As a result of I really feel that it may well solely profit our sport. I do not understand how he feels in his physique, what his plans are, however let’s hope we are able to nonetheless compete.”
Parting might be painful.
These Paris Olympic Video games marks Andy Murray’s closing skilled look and could be Nadal’s curtain name, although the 38-year-old Spanish celebrity is on the entry listing for the US Open and Laver Cup. If each Murray and Nadal name it quits after Paris that would depart Djokovic because the lone member of the Large 4 nonetheless competing.
Although at the moment’s victory might nicely mark the top of an period, Djokovic says the Large 4 can all look again with pleasure and satisfaction on what they achieved individually and collectively.
“It’s unhappy however on the similar time there are such a lot of fantastic moments in matches, milestones we are able to have fun in the case of every one in every of us—and us as a gaggle—the rivalries,” Djokovic stated earlier this season. “And one of many biggest rivalries if not the best rivalries the game has seen between the three, 4 of us.”
Nonetheless, when the curtain closes on the careers of all 4 Large 4 champions, Djokovic says they may share a typical connectivity for all times: Their shared dedication to rising the game.
“There’s new children on the block so to say with Alcaraz, Sinner, Rune they’re leaders of the subsequent, subsequent technology,” Djokovic stated. “Clearly, Medvedev, Tsitsipas, Zverev, these guys are nonetheless Prime 5, Prime 10 on the earth. These guys are wonderful.
“I feel tennis is in good palms. Hopefully the contributions we made within the final 20 years can serve the aim of increasing on the recognition of tennis and rising the game. The underside line is that we wish that.
“We’re all passionate concerning the sport. All of us wish to see the game develop.”
#Hope #Play