Marion Bartoli on Djokovic vs Nadal: “I think that the past confrontations came back in Novak’s head”
ATP
Former
world No. 7 Marion Bartoli commented on the match between Novak Djokovic and
Rafael Nadal and said it was not as spectacular as in the past. The French
ex-tennis player spoke with RMC and commented on the Serbian's victory in the
second round of the Olympic Games.
The 24-time
Grand Slam champion dominated the match from start to finish, and despite a
small reaction from Nadal in the second set, Nole ultimately secured the win at
Philippe Chatrier, marking another early elimination for Nadal at Stade Roland
Garros, albeit this time during the Olympic tournament.
“Novak was
completely above," Bartoli said. "He was able to maneuver Rafa, make him play in areas that he
doesn’t like, and we could see it was difficult on his side supports,
especially on the back side where he was often late. But Novak had a moment of
deconcentration, Rafa got into the breach, and I think that the past
confrontations came back in Novak’s head, we felt the tension.”
Djokovic
was asked during the press conference if he feels a sort of 'brotherhood' with
Nadal after so many years competing closely, but the Serbian denied it:
"No, there is no brotherhood. We are more rivals and colleagues. It’s hard
to be close. There’s a lot of classified information, so at this level you
can’t get too close to your rival,” he said.
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“We have
been playing this sport for a long time, I hope that in the future we can
improve our relations. We share a part of our life, the truth is I would like
to see our relationship improve in the future. Our lives will change one day
and maybe we can share more things," Nole added.
Djokovic's
victory tilts the balance in his favor to 31-29 after 60 matches, the most
prolific rivalry in the Open Era. The world No. 2 did not want to speculate
whether this match would be the last of their rivalry but wished Nadal all the
best: "We’re going forward,” he said, “We’ll see if there are other games
in the big tournaments.”
“We had
epic duels, the longest Grand Slam finals in history, 60 games total. I don’t
know how he feels or what his plans are. Maybe it won’t be the last time we see
each other on the field. I wanted to be aggressive in this game, make him move
as much as possible but I wish him all the best for his future."
“Back in
2006 (first match in Paris), I don’t think we could have thought we would play
in almost 20 years time on the same court in the Olympic Games. I think we will
eventually appreciate this match very much, not just for our rivalry, but for
the sport itself. There was a lot of attention and a lot of interest towards
our match today, so it benefits all of us. It’s unfortunate that he was not at
his best, but I did everything I could to make him uncomfortable on court.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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