Nadal Loses to Djokovic in Potentially His Last Match at Roland Garros

It’s a fitting end for a legend. Having a bronze statue of yourself erected at Roland-Garros, the venue of your greatest triumphs, before you even retire is certainly a “baller move” in modern parlance. Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, saw his statue unveiled at the United Center in 1994, but he was already retired at that point. However, Nadal’s statue was unveiled in 2021, while he was still playing and winning French Open titles, including his 14th in 2022.

Nadal’s reign at Roland-Garros, however, might be coming to an end. In the most anticipated match on Monday at the Olympics, Novak Djokovic, the world No. 1 and holder of a record 24 Grand Slam titles, defeated Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4. This is likely the final chapter in their two-decade rivalry, with Djokovic now leading the head-to-head record 31-29. While Nadal hasn’t committed to retiring, he’s made it clear that injuries have hampered his desire to continue, making this possibly his last year on the tour. The atmosphere at Court Philippe-Chatrier, and among the fans who lined up to take photos with Nadal’s statue, was thick with the realization that they might be witnessing Nadal’s last match in Paris, on the court that defined his career.

“You want me to retire every day, guys,” Nadal told reporters after the match. He’s still competing at these Olympics, and will be playing doubles with Djokovic. “I cannot live every single day with the feeling that it is going to be or not going to be my last match,” Nadal said. “I come here, I try my best, I play and when I decide to stop playing or when I decide to keep going, I will let you know.” 

Despite his best efforts, Nadal couldn’t overcome his nemesis, Djokovic. Djokovic raced to a 5-0 lead in the first set, and even he seemed hesitant to inflict a bagel on Nadal. Nadal managed to hold serve to make it 5-1, but Djokovic closed out the set shortly after. In the second set, Djokovic went up 4-0, and the match looked like it was going to be a blowout. A 6-1, 6-0 loss at Roland-Garros, even to a player as dominant as Djokovic, would be a tough sight for any fan, reminiscent of the twilight years of Willie Mays or Michael Jordan in his Washington Wizards uniform.

Nadal, however, held serve, and on his first break point of the match, Djokovic double-faulted. Nadal held again, and tied the set at 4-4 on a beautiful forehand passing shot. The crowd at Roland-Garros erupted, reminiscent of the stadium’s electric atmosphere of the past. Nadal was running, sliding, striking like his old self.

But Djokovic wouldn’t give in either. A beautiful backhand drop shot won him the next game. Djokovic’s serve was firing in the final game, and he closed out the match without much drama.

“I was not able to put him in difficult positions, I was not able to have enough quality shots, enough quality of movement,” said Nadal. “I must accept that I am not ready to play on this high level.”

After the match ended, Nadal didn’t linger for fanfare. Djokovic blew kisses to the crowd and mimicked playing the violin on his racket, a gesture for his daughter Tara, who is learning to play the instrument. It would have been a nice gesture for Djokovic to acknowledge his opponent, given the potential history and Nadal’s potential farewell in France. Nadal, however, simply packed his bags and walked off with a wave. There was no lap of honor or any grand gesture.

“Everything has a beginning, everything has an end,” Nadal said on Monday. “I’m going to miss the adrenaline of playing. But you know, guys, I can’t complain. I have been playing this sport for 20 years, fighting for the most important things. I achieved much more than I ever dreamed. If that’s the last match here, or when it’s going to be my last match here, I’m going to accept [it] in peace. I did my best. I can’t complain anymore.” 

Some two hours after Djokovic’s win, dozens of people from around the world continued to line up at the Nadal statue to pay homage. “It’s always going to be sad,” says Alex Alonso, a medical student from Madrid who was at Roland-Garros for the first time with his father, about the impending end of Nadal’s career. “But we have to remember the good times that Rafa has given us here. We have enjoyed Rafa, and now we have to enjoy Carlos for the next 20 years.”