TWO of the tennis all-time greats may have met for the final time on Monday, as Novak Djokovic held off a stirring second-set fightback from Spain’s Rafa Nadal to earn a straight-sets win at the Olympics in Paris.
One of the best moments in the arena was even before a single ball was played, as both men were given a rapturous ovation as they entered the Philippe-Chatrier stadium.
Nadal said this year would almost certainly be his final season but still has the men’s doubles to look forward in partnership with his ‘successor’ Carlos Alcaraz.
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They have a second round encounter on Tuesday against Dutch pairing of Wesley Koolhof and Fallon Griekspoor to look forward to.
It is the third time Djokovic has beaten Nadal on the clay of Roland Garros and sees him move 31-29 up in their clashes over the best part of two decades.
The top seeded triumphed 6-1 6-4 to reach the third round after Nadal was blown away in the opening set, rescuing a potential bagel in his final service game.
He then gave the crowd something to shout about in the second as he fought back from 4-0 down to level things up, but Djokovic then blew away the Spaniard’s come back.
The Serb will now play either Germany’s Dominik Koepfer or Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in the third round.
