Paris Olympics 2024: Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: Rafael Nadal (Esp) vs Novak Djokovic (Srb)
Date: July 29/30, 2024 (Not yet confirmed)
Tournament: Paris Olympics 2024
Round: Second Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Stade Roland Garros, Paris, France
Category: Olympics
Surface: Clay
Live Telecast: USA - NBC, Peacock | UK - Eurosport, Discovery+, BBC iPlayer | Canada - CBC Gem, Radio Canada, Tou.tv | India - JioCinema, Sports18
Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic preview:
The two most successful male players in the history of tennis will come face-to-face in the second round of Paris Olympics at Roland Garros. It has been Nadal's favorite hunting ground for the last couple of decades, as he has won 14 titles there. However, at 38, the Spaniard is no longer the force he used to be on clay.
Nadal, however, displayed a reasonably good level in his first-round victory over Marton Fucsovics of Hungary, as he won the match 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. It was classic Nadal on display, particularly in the opening set. Of the eighteen games he has played this season, the Spaniard has won twelve.
Conversely, Djokovic, who is 37 years old, remains one of the best players in the world. He is ranked second in the world at the moment and finished runner-up at the recently concluded Wimbledon Championships. However, all is not well with the Serb, as he is yet to win a title in 2024. Nevertheless, he got off to a strong start in the Olympics, defeating Matthew Ebden 6-0, 6-1 in the opening round. At the moment, Djokovic has a win-loss record of 23-7 this year.
Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic head-to-head
The two players have been treating tennis-lovers all over the world with their epic clashes for the past decade and a half. They have collided 59 times so far, with Djokovic leading the match-up 30-29. Nadal will be aiming to level the head-to-head record.
Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic odds
(Odds to be updated once they are available)
Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic prediction
It does not get any bigger than this. As previously mentioned, the second round will feature a match between arguably the two greatest male tennis players in history. If Nadal's sharp down-the-line forehands and fantastic crosscourt backhands against Fucsovics are an indication, Djokovic will not have it easy.
In fact, Nadal has been hitting his forehand as well as he has in the recent past and can hurt Djokovic with it. The key for the Serb will be to take the pace off the ball at times to force Nadal to exert more power. The 37-year-old will also be looking to make Nadal move around, as the Spaniard has slowed down due to his age.
Nevertheless, as Nadal demonstrated against Fucsovics by expertly utilizing angles, he possesses the ability to reciprocate by forcing Djokovic to extend his reach laterally. Djokovic's powerful backhand, however, will serve as a formidable tool against Nadal's crosscourt forehand. The Serb's slightly superior serve will be less of a factor on clay, though.
The Spaniard has an 8-2 record against the Serb at Roland Garros and will be buoyed by that. He might be able to sneak out his ninth win in the second round in Paris.
Pick: Nadal to win in three sets.