"I did my part of the job": Novak Djokovic throws gauntlet down to Rafael Nadal as potential blockbuster tie awaits
ATPSunday, 28 July 2024 at 07:48
They could face off for the final time in their respective careers on Monday with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal on an Olympic Games sized collision course (if the Spaniard gets past Marton Fucsovics) and the gauntlet has been thrown down by the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Djokovic who thrashed Matt Ebden in the opening round and openly criticised the rules that saw the top seed face a doubles specialist who didn't want to play singles said himself that his first match will be his second round.
Nadal though is a question mark. He openly said that he wasn't a fan of the scheduling in Paris and that he wasn't sure whether he would play singles as a result. He has kind of left it on a knife edge whether he would take to the court or not as ever and will leave fans waiting.
So they may not get Nadal v Djokovic merely due to withdrawals as opposed to the Spaniard losing. But for Djokovic it is very much he has done his part and he looks forward to the clash if it ends up happening.
"Yeah there is a great hype around that (potentially meeting Nadal in the second round). I mean, I did my part of the job and obviously he has to win his first round (match) tomorrow. I've got to get ready for that one obviously, it can be a blockbuster," Djokovic said.
"It's one of the matches or one of the events I guess that a lot of people at the Olympics in Paris this year are looking forward to. When the draw came out, we knew that there is a high probability that it might happen, so I'm ready for it. I'm looking forward to our last dance so to say, possibly on this court," Djokovic added.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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