Djokovic, Nadal set for Olympics second-round showdown
![Djokovic, Nadal set for Olympics second-round showdown Djokovic, Nadal set for Olympics second-round showdown](https://citizentv.obs.af-south-1.myhuaweicloud.com/129990/conversions/Djokovic-og_image.webp)
Grand Slam record-breakers Novak Djokovic and
Rafael Nadal were placed on an Olympics second-round collision course in the
draw for the Paris Games on Thursday.
Nadal, a singles gold medalist at the 2008
Olympics, is playing in his final Games having also won doubles gold in Rio in
2016, while Djokovic was a bronze medalist in singles in 2008.
Serbia's Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion
and top seed in Paris following the withdrawal of world number one Jannik
Sinner, begins his campaign against Australia's Matthew Ebden.
"I am excited for this duel in the second
round, and I will give it my all," said Djokovic, who has faced Nadal 59
times over the past 18 years.
"I am aware of the importance of the
Olympic Games. I represent my country, which is more responsibility and even
more pressure."
Spain's Nadal, who has won 14 of his 22 Grand
Slams on the clay of Roland Garros, faces Hungary's Marton Fucsovics in his
opener.
French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos
Alcaraz, the second seed, tackles 275th-ranked Hady Habib of Lebanon in opening
round of the tournament, which starts on Saturday.
"Roland Garros is the most special place in
the world of tennis for me," said 38-year-old Nadal, who was defeated in
the first round of the French Open by Alexander Zverev last month during an
injury-hit season.
"This year I was not able to spend a lot of
time at Roland Garros so I am excited to be back here. It's another opportunity
and a chance to enjoy every single moment."
Defending Olympic champion Zverev, seeded third,
takes on Jaume Munar of Spain.
Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev, playing in
Paris as a neutral following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, will meet Rinky
Hijikata of Australia.
Two-time singles gold medallist Andy Murray, who
will end his career at the Olympics after almost two decades on tour, will only
play doubles.
The 37-year-old former world number one
underwent surgery to remove a cyst on his back before Wimbledon, which also
sidelined him from singles at the All England Club.
At the Olympics he will play doubles with Dan
Evans.
"The Olympics are incredibly special for me
and I am happy to do it one more time to compete for my country," Murray
said at Thursday's draw.
"I trained the last few weeks to get myself
ready to play singles and doubles but I am getting older and it's harder to
recover from all the injuries. I just ran out of time."
Murray and Evans start their doubles bid against
Japan's Kei Nishikori and Taro Daniel.
Nadal and Alcaraz, who will team up for the
first time, face Argentina's Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez.
Nadal, Djokovic and Nishikori are playing at the
Olympics for the fifth time in their careers.
Also making a final appearance will be Germany's
Angelique Kerber, who announced Thursday she will retire once the Games end.
The 36-year-old, who won three Grand Slam
titles, was a silver medallist in singles at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
In a first-round clash of mothers, Kerber faces
four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka of Japan.
"I took the toughest decision of my life
today," said 36-year-old Kerber.
"It is not easy to make such a big decision
and if I could, I would play forever."
Women's world number one Iga Swiatek, returning
to the scene of her fourth French Open title last month, begins against
Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu.
Second-ranked US Open champion Coco Gauff, who
missed the Tokyo Olympics three years ago with Covid, takes on Australia's Ajla
Tomljanovic.
Gauff will join basketball
great LeBron James as a flag-bearer for the US team in Friday's opening
ceremony on the Seine in the heart of the French capital.
Want to send us a story? SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp 0743570000 or Submit on Citizen Digital or email wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a Comment