World Courant
Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal celebrated his thirty eighth birthday final month.
The 22-time Grand Slam singles winner has struggled with various accidents in recent times, elevating suspicions that he would quickly retire from the game he has dominated for thus lengthy.
However Nadal went out of his approach to dispel the concept that the 2024 Olympics in Paris can be the ultimate chapter of his legendary profession.
Shortly after the opening spherical of the boys’s doubles at Roland Garros, the place he has gained Roland Garros 14 instances, Nadal hinted that his years-long rivalry with Novak Djokovic is much from over.
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Rafael Nadal of the Spanish staff performs a backhand throughout a coaching for the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games at Roland Garros on July 24, 2024 in Paris. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Pictures)
“Who says that is the final dance?” Nadal joked when requested if he was ready for a attainable “final dance” with Djokovic in singles on the Summer season Video games.
Nadal is scheduled to face Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics within the opening spherical of the boys’s singles on Sunday. The Spaniard beforehand appeared uncertain whether or not he would face Fucsovics, saying, “I do not know if I will play or not,” in response to The Related Press.
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Nadal mentioned he wished to debate his plans for Sunday’s competitors after taking part in final Saturday, “after which make the neatest resolution to have the most effective probabilities of bringing house (a) medal.”
Rafael Nadal of Spain carries the Olympic torch in the course of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games on July 26, 2024. (Stephanie Lecocq/Pool/AFP through Getty Pictures)
If Nadal beats Fucsovics, he’ll earn a spot within the second spherical, the place he’ll possible face Djokovic.
The Serbian, the all-time singles file holder, mentioned she was excited in regards to the probability to face Nadal, particularly if it was certainly for the final time.
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“Once we face one another, it is likely to be the final time we face one another on an enormous stage,” Djokovic mentioned. “So I am positive folks will get pleasure from it. I am wanting ahead to it and I am prepared for that confrontation.”
Rafael Nadal of the Spanish staff throughout a coaching session at Roland Garros forward of the Olympic Video games in Paris on July 23, 2024. (Andy Cheung/Getty Pictures)
Nadal and Djokovic haven’t confronted one another for the reason that quarterfinals on the 2022 French Open, when Nadal outlasted Djokovic to win his 14th title at Roland Garros.
“Taking part in in opposition to him is sort of a remaining, in any match,” Djokovic mentioned. “Particularly right here, figuring out what he has achieved and what he has executed for our sport, however particularly right here at Roland Garros, his file speaks for itself.”
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Nadal known as taking part in in Saturday’s doubles match in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz “emotional.”
“(It was) an emotional evening, an thrilling evening, an awesome crowd,” Nadal mentioned. “To play with Carlos on this court docket was so particular. I am simply tremendous proud of the win. It offers us an opportunity to undergo.”
Whereas the “King of Clay” will finally finish his stellar profession, the Olympics might not be his final debut.
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Chantz Martin is a sports activities journalist for Fox Information Digital.
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