Djokovic overcomes Nadal in Olympics to continue gold medal quest

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic delivered a masterclass performance to defeat Rafael Nadal 6-1, 6-4 in their Olympic second-round clash, advancing in his pursuit of an elusive gold medal.

Playing on the clay courts of Roland Garros, Djokovic, 37, showcased his superior form, establishing an early lead and dominating most of the match.

He surged ahead with a 4-0 advantage in the second set, but Nadal, 38, managed to fight back and erase the double break. Nevertheless, Djokovic regained control to break Nadal’s serve at 5-4 and clinch victory.

“I’m very relieved,” Djokovic admitted post-match. “Everything was going my way. I was 6-1, 4-0 up but I played a sloppy service game and gave him chances.”

Nadal, renowned as the King of Clay with 14 French Open titles, found himself unable to counter Djokovic’s exceptional play.

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The two legends of the game, who have now met 60 times, shared a heartfelt embrace at the net, with Djokovic applauding Nadal off the court. Since their first encounter in 2006, Djokovic leads their head-to-head record 31-29.

Reflecting on their enduring rivalry, Djokovic remarked, “I never thought back in 2006 that we’d still be playing each other almost 20 years later.”

While Djokovic has amassed 24 Grand Slam titles and every ATP Masters event, the Olympic gold remains one of his few major achievements yet to be secured.

As he continues his bid for Olympic glory, Djokovic is determined to add this prestigious title to his illustrious career.

The post Djokovic overcomes Nadal in Olympics to continue gold medal quest first appeared on 3News.

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