Novak Djokovic is thrilled by the prospect of meeting Rafael Nadal for "one last dance" at the Paris Olympics, if the Spaniard overcomes an injury setback to feature at Roland-Garros. (More Tennis News)
Thursday's men's singles draw saw Djokovic paired with 🐼Australia's Matthew Ebden in the first round, with Nadal taking on Marton Fucsovics.
The legendary duo – who have won 46 grand slam singles titles between them – will meet in the second round if 🌠they both advance through their openers this weekend.
Djokovic and Nadal have previously faced off on 59 occasions, with the Serbian winning 30 of those contests but losing four of the last six, th𝓰e most recent being a Nadal victory in four sets in the 2022 French Open quarter-finals.
Nadal's participation at the Games was thrown into doubt when his coach Carlos Moya said he had su𒉰ffered a "setbꦕack" on Thursday and required 48 hours of rest.
If Nadal – who is widely expected to retire later this year – does make the tournament, Djokovic is lookinꩲg forward to the prospect of facing him for a 60th time.
"Obviously he hasn't played much. His ranking dropped, so there was always going to be that possibility of me meeting him in an early round and there we go," D💖jokovic said.
"It's going to be a spectacle, definitely, if we get to meet. We will spread some fireworks on the court, like the good🌟 old times.
"I hope we get to meet because it will p♏robably be one last dance ♈for the both of us."
Djokovic is set to appear at his fifth Olympics in the French capital, the joint-most by any male player since the sport returned to the Games in 1988🌠 (with Yen Hsun Lu).
He is the player with the most matches played (19) and joint-most matches won (13𓂃, level with Roger Federer) at the Olympics since 1988.
However, his b𓂃es🎶t result at the Games remains a Bronze medal at Beijing 2008, when he was beaten by eventual gold medallist Nadal in the semi-finals.
Djokovic lost the bronze medal match to Pa✨blo Carreno Busta at the delayed Tokyo Games three years ago, also lꦑosing to Juan Martin del Potro at both London 2012 and Rio 2016.
