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PARIS: The long, winding queue outside Roland Garros added to the sense of growing anticipation. Some locals and a Polish bunch were there for the Iga Swiatek-Diane Parry match. But even for them that clash was a mere footnote to the main action coming up at Philippe Chartier court here on a sunny Monday afternoon.It was all about two ageing, great champions of the game – Rafael Nadal, 38 and Novak Djokovic, 37 – meeting probably for the last time on this hallowed patch of clay.
The Parisians love Nadal as their own. The Spaniard is the King here. 14 titles, 112 wins, just 4 losses. Nadal was 8-2 against Djokovic here before the match; the Serb was ahead 30-29 in career head-to-head record.
But Monday was not about numbers or records. His body ravaged by injuries over a two-decade career, Nadal willed himself to play here at the Olympics. He lost in the first round in the French Open three months back. Djokovic, also troubled by a knee injury, pulled out of the quarterfinals. But all that did not matter when the two greats met again, this time fighting for their respective countries.
They walked onto the court to a loud roar from the 15,000-capacity crowd. The action started with Djokovic’s serve. The Serb, knee strapped, raced to 40-0, then saw Nadal make it deuce. Djokovic somehow managed to hold on to his serve. Nadal started with 0-30, then drew level with a sublime inside-out forehand shot. However, he was broken when his return hit the net and went out.
Djokovic won the next game at love, playing two superb drop shots in the process. 3-0. He looked to be in a hurry. Down 30-40 in the next game, Nadal pulled out a vintage drop volley that made it 40-40. He was fighting for every ball, the way he has all his life. But it was clear that he was not 100 % match fit.
Djokovic, on the other hand, was playing with authority and ease, having sensed that his rival was not at his best. It was soon 4-0.
Nadal made the final of the Bastad Open just last week. However, that outing was not enough to give him the momentum he needed against a player of Djokovic’s calibre.
Djokovic raced through the next game, holding his serve again at love. 5-0. It was looking desperate for the Spaniard, but he won the next one and pumped his fist. The crowd came alive. Djokovic lost the first point in the next game as Nadal passed him at the net. But after that it was again a cruise for him. Game done, set done. 6-1.
Nadal started the second set with some promise but found himself at 40-40 once again on his serve. Two unforced errors made it 1-0 in the Serb’s favour. Nadal seemed to be playing from memory. His mind was willing, his body was not.
A magical backhand down the line by Djokovic was the talking point of the next game, which he sealed with an ace. 2-0.
The crowd chanted ‘Rafa, Rafa‘, egging their favourite to fight back. He tried hard, catching up at 30-30 after losing two points. Then a double fault pushed him to the edge, but Nadal clawed back to make it 40-40. Djokovic refused to budge, breaking the Spaniard again. 3-0.
There was no change in the script when Djokovic served. The Serb sealed it with a delicate volley. 4-0.
Nadal then won his first game of the set and pushed hard for a service break in the next game. Nadal went up 40-30 on Djokovic’s serve for the first time in the match. An uncharacteristic double fault by Djokovic gave Nadal the much-needed break, the first of the match for him. 4-2. Game on?
The break did change Nadal’s game. He suddenly looked pumped up. He won the next game without much fuss. The crowd roared its approval. 4-3. Up 40-30 in the next game, Nadal broke Djokovic again with a scorching forehand crosscourt shot. 4-4. The crowd was on its feet, singing, dancing, chanting. Their Rafa was back. Match fitness or not, he was not going to simply fade away.
Down 15-30 on his serve, he recovered to 40-40 but Djokovic broke him with a drop volley. It was 5-4 in the Serb’s favour.
Serving for the set and the match, Djokovic made an unforced error but recovered with an ace to go up 30-15. Then came another unforced error: 30-30. Then Rafa made an unforced error. Djokovic needed no more prompting. He finished it with an ace. Game, set, match Djokovic.
Nadal packed his bag quickly and walked away to loud applause.
For those who care, it is now Rafa 8-3 vs Djokovic at Roland Garros and Djokovic 31-29 in career head-to-head. But that’s just for the record, it’s all about the memories.
