Rafael Nadal defeats Novak Djokovic in the opening match of the Paris Olympics 2024

The first standing ovation from fans for Rafael Nadal came when he wasn’t even in front of the crowd at all, only shown on video screens while waiting in stadium corridors to enter the field prepared for the Olympics. In Paris and the French Open, tournaments where he has established his domain.

They remained on their feet, some applauding, others holding up their cell phones to take pictures of the moment he emerged and set foot on the familiar red sand. Shouts of “Rafa!” Many red and yellow Spanish flags waved in the stands when Nadal beat Hungary’s Marton Fusovics 6:1, 4:6, 6:4 in the first round on Sunday to win an exciting match against rival Novak. Djokovic has booked a place in the Summer Olympics.

“His fighting spirit is at the top, still,” Fucsovics said about the 38-year-old Nadal. “He is not at his best level (of) playing. But if he has a good day, he can beat anybody.”

Nadal made a last-minute decision to stay in singles a day after winning the doubles matches with partner Carlos Alcaraz and said he was unsure whether he would play in either event.

Not only did Nadal play on Sunday, but for long stretches, especially at the start of matches and in key moments, he played like the version of himself we’re all used to seeing: the sprinting, sliding, groaning star, the 22nd Grand Slam player to represent Spain, who won the singles trophy in 2008 and the doubles trophy in 2016, and an Olympic gold medal.

And the crowd went wild.

“It was a pleasure,” Fucsovics said, “to play against Rafa.”

Of course, it wasn’t clear at first whether this would be Nadal’s last singles match at the Olympics… or in this one? Stadium, which means so much to his career (and vice versa)… or anywhere for that matter. He has been more cautious about the topic of retirement in recent days, even after saying in 2023 that he expects 2024 to be his end.

Nadal has battled a number of injuries over the past two seasons, including hip surgery in 2023, and on Sunday he had his right thigh taped up and a finger on his right hand had to be treated by a trainer in the third set.

But after a morning workout to test his stamina, about 18 and a half hours after Nadal and Alcaraz, the pair of Spain’s new and old tennis superstars, won their opening match as a doubles pair, he decided to play.

Nadal has not said whether this will be the last tournament of his illustrious career, but there is much speculation about it.

In the second round, Nadal will face the 37-year-old Serb Djokovic. It will be the 60th match between the two, the most they have played since the Open era began in 1968. Djokovic leads the head-to-head series 30-29.

With 24 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic is the only player in tennis history to have won more titles than Nadal.

As Nadal and Fucsovics warmed up under a breezy, blue sky, the crowd rose to their feet and Nadal took a 3-0 lead in just 13 minutes to take the first set against the lower-ranked 32-year-old Fucsovics, ranked 83rd in the world.

Nadal never looked ready to finish, especially early in the match. In the second game, he sprinted, slid and hit a stinging cross-court backhand to win the point and erupt from the crowd.

And that’s what it felt like. An audience enthralled and appreciating the performance of a player whose exploits are so well known. The relentlessness in chasing every ball. The left-handed bullwhip attack with an overhead finishing pose. The sound of effort punctuates many a club swing.

Fucsovics’ resume clearly can’t keep up with Nadal’s. Fucsovics reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon in 2021 but has lost in the first round at every major tournament so far this season.

Nadal has yet to win a Grand Slam match in 2024. He missed the Australian Open in January because of a hip muscle injury near where he had surgery, lost in the first round to eventual runner-up Alexander Zverev at the French Open in May and missed Wimbledon in July because of an injury. He didn’t want to warm up on grass courts before returning to clay for the Olympics.

After Nadal won the first set, things settled down a bit for him. Suddenly, it was Fucsovics who was calling the baseline changes, especially with his own hot forehand, while Nadal’s punches had lost some of their usual power.

Finally, and not surprisingly, Nadal’s muscle memory kicked in.

The key sequence came when Nadal was serving for the third set, trailing 2-1. He fell behind at 0:40, giving Fucsovics three break points, but Nadal recovered and won the next five points, including one with a forehand winner to make it 2-2. He broke in the next game to secure a lead he would never relinquish.

During the next break, a trainer was called onto the court to tape the ring finger of Nadal’s right hand. He plays as a left-handed player but uses his right hand for his two-handed backhand.

“I had a chance in the third set … but then he played very solid, very aggressive,” Fucsovics said.

Nadal had to fend off a break point in the next game too, but managed it to lead 4:2.

Moments later he hit a final forehand winner and raised his arms in clenched fists. An even tougher test against Djokovic awaits and will attract much attention.

Other men’s players who advanced on Sunday included Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Zverev, two-time French Open runner-up Casper Ruud of Norway, 2021 French Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas, American Tommy Paul and Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti.