Olympics Showdown: Djokovic vs. Nadal Looms in Early Rounds
Top seed Novak Djokovic may face 14-time French Open champion Rafa Nadal in a highly anticipated second-round match in the men's singles at the Olympic Games. Women's top seed Iga Swiatek faces Irina-Camelia Begu, while second seed Coco Gauff meets Ajla Tomljanovic. Nadal and Alcaraz form a Spanish dream team for the men's doubles.
![Olympics Showdown: Djokovic vs. Nadal Looms in Early Rounds](https://devdiscourse.blob.core.windows.net/devnews/13_07_2024_23_47_09_8822313.jpg)
Top seed Novak Djokovic could face 14-time French Open champion Rafa Nadal in a blockbuster second-round match at the Olympic men's singles following the draw at Roland Garros on Thursday. Women's top seed Iga Swiatek will meet Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu, while second seed Coco Gauff faces Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic.
The men's singles draw created a buzz as it revealed Spaniard Nadal could block Djokovic's path. Djokovic, promoted to number one seed following Italy's Jannik Sinner's withdrawal due to illness, will open against Australia's Matthew Ebden. If both advance, Djokovic and Nadal could clash in the second round, rekindling their rivalry that includes 10 French Open face-offs.
Nadal, the 14-time French Open champion, and Alcaraz join forces in doubles, making them strong contenders despite not being seeded. Swiatek, the women's top seed, looks set for a favourable draw, and standout women's singles matches include Kerber against Osaka. Defending men's champion Alexander Zverev faces Jaume Munar in his opener.
(With inputs from agencies.)