PARIS — Fans gave Rafael Nadal a standing ovation before he even stepped onto the court, his image projected onto a video screen as he waited in the stadium hallway. The cheers continued as he walked out onto the red clay court, a surface he’s dominated throughout his career. Chants of “Ra-fa! Ra-fa!” filled the air, accompanied by waves of red-and-yellow Spanish flags, as Nadal defeated Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in the first round of the Paris Olympics on Sunday. This victory sets up a highly anticipated showdown with his longtime rival, Novak Djokovic.
“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 compete in the singles bracket, just a day after winning the doubles event with his partner Carlos Alcaraz. He initially expressed uncertainty about his participation in both events.
Nadal’s performance on Sunday, particularly in the early and closing stages of the match, showcased his signature style: the relentless sprinting, sliding, and grunting that have defined his career. It was a reminder of the player who has won 22 Grand Slam trophies and Olympic gold medals in singles (2008) and doubles (2016).
“It was a pleasure,” Fucsovics said, “to play against Rafa.”
There was a sense of uncertainty surrounding whether this could be Nadal’s final singles match at these Olympics, or perhaps even his last match in this stadium, which holds a special place in his career. He has been coy about his future, despite suggesting in 2023 that 2024 would be his final year.
Nadal has battled numerous injuries over the past two seasons, including hip surgery in 2023. He had tape on his right thigh during Sunday’s match and required treatment on his right hand in the third set.
Following a morning practice session to test his fitness, he decided to compete in the singles event, just 18.5 hours after he and Alcaraz — Spain’s old and new tennis superstars — won their first doubles match as a team.
Nadal has not explicitly stated whether this will be the final event of his illustrious career, but there has been speculation that it might be.
In the second round, Nadal will face Djokovic, a 37-year-old from Serbia. This will be their 60th encounter, the most matches any two men have played against each other in the Open era (1968 onwards). Djokovic holds the head-to-head advantage with 30 wins compared to Nadal’s 29.
Djokovic’s 24 Grand Slam titles make him the only player in tennis history to surpass Nadal’s total.
As Nadal and Fucsovics warmed up under a blue sky with a gentle breeze, shouts of “Ole!” echoed through the stadium. Spectators rose to their feet when Nadal quickly surged ahead 3-0 in just 13 minutes, dominating the first set against the overmatched Fucsovics, ranked 83rd in the world.
Nadal’s performance at the start of the match dispelled any doubts about his readiness to compete. In the second game, he sprinted and slid to deliver a powerful cross-court backhand, eliciting gasps from the audience. The spectators were captivated by his performance, appreciating the familiar elements of his game: his relentless pursuit of every ball, the powerful forehand, and the grunts that accompany his swings.
Fucsovics’ career achievements pale in comparison to Nadal’s. He has reached one Grand Slam quarterfinal (Wimbledon 2021) and exited in the first round of every major tournament this season.
Nadal has also been winless in Grand Slam matches this year. He missed the Australian Open in January due to a hip injury, was eliminated in the first round of the French Open in May by the eventual runner-up, Alexander Zverev, and skipped Wimbledon in July to avoid transitioning from clay to grass courts before returning to clay for the Olympics.
After his dominant first set, Nadal’s performance slowed down slightly. Fucsovics started to dictate the baseline exchanges with his strong forehand, while Nadal’s shots lacked their usual power.
Ultimately, Nadal’s experience and muscle memory took over.
A crucial moment came in the third set when Nadal was serving at 2-1 down. He faced three break points but battled back, winning the next five points — the last with a forehand winner — to hold for 2-all. He then broke Fucsovics’ serve in the next game, taking the lead he would never relinquish.
A trainer was called to the court during the ensuing changeover to apply tape to the ring finger on Nadal’s right hand. Despite being left-handed, Nadal 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 saved another break point in the following game and established a 4-2 lead.
He eventually closed out the match with another forehand winner, raising his arms in victory. The next challenge will be Djokovic, a match that is sure to generate enormous attention.