By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Thursday, July 25, 2024
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
The City of Light is abuzz over potential electrifying encounter.
Novak Djokovic is pumped for a Paris reunion with rival Rafael Nadal.
More: Alcaraz Dismisses Djokovic to Defend Wimbledon
Episode 60 of the Djokovic vs. Nadal rivalry will happen in the Paris Olympics second round if both iconic champions win their Olympic openers.
The top-seeded Djokovic, who holds a 30-29 head-to-head edge over Nadal in the most prolific rivalry in ATP history, said he’s pumped for possible showdown with the king of clay at Roland Garros.
“I’m very excited about this duel in the second round and I’m going to give it my all,” Djokovic told the media in Paris at Team Serbia’s press conference. “I am aware of the importance of the Olympics. But I represent my country, it’s more pressure, more responsibilities even if I’m used to it.”
The 37-year-old Serbian superstar returns to Paris after undergoing surgery to repair a torn medial meniscus in his right knee on Wednesday, June 5th in the City of Light. Djokovic opens against Aussie Matthew Ebden, while Nadal faces Marton Fucsovics in his first-round match.
Coming off a straight-sets loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, Djokovic is playing for his first career Olympic gold medal. The former No. 1 said the Grand Slams and Olympic Games are his primary motivation.
Knowing the career clock is ticking compels Djokovic to maximize these moments.
“This year has been a bit difficult both physically and mentally,” Djokovic said. “But these are circumstances that I am not experiencing for the first time. I know how to understand the situation.
“Maybe I don’t have as much time as I did ten or fifteen years ago. I focus on the big events. That’s why I’m working to be able to compete with a 20-year-old at the highest level. I’m looking forward to this tournament.”
Audacious power propelled Alexander Zverev to shatter the top-seeded Serbian’s Golden Grand Slam dream at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Amping up his aggression, Zverev streaked through 10 of the last 11 games shocking world No. 1 Djokovic 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 to power into the Tokyo Olympics gold-medal match.
STUNNER! 🤯
Germany’s @AlexZverev beats @DjokerNole to advance to the gold-medal match at the #TokyoOlympics. pic.twitter.com/5JipsVzKOv
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2021
“He just upped his level and I just wasn’t serving anymore as well as I did for a set and a…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Blog RSS…