Rafael Nadal set up a tantalising second-round contest with old foe Novak Djokovic at Paris 2024 after coming through his opening Olympics singles match.
Spain’s Nadal, 38, had cast doubt on whether he would even be able to play against Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics because of a thigh injury.
But the 2008 gold medallist had enough to see off Fucsovics in a 6-1 4-6 6-4 win.
Nadal, playing at the scene of his record 14 men’s singles titles, returned to Court Philippe Chatrier less than 24 hours after he played alongside Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s doubles. A superb first set against Fucsovics initially allayed any fears about his physical state, although he was unable to keep up that level in the second.
With his thigh heavily strapped, Nadal fought back in the decider and scraped through to victory with the trademark tenacity which he demonstrated throughout his career.
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