The beast roars in Paris

Raquel Bermúdez Rodríguez | 28 Jul 2024 | 17.59

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Rafael Nadal fulfills his mission, despite the doubts, also in the singles category. The Spanish player, currently ranked 161st in the ATP Ranking, defeated Marton Fucsovics in his debut at these Paris 2024 Olympics with a score of 6-1, 4-6, and 6-4 in 2 hours and 26 minutes of intense competition filled with emotions. Test passed now for a Nadal who will face Novak Djokovic in the second round.

Ecstatic after finding out he would finally play, the crowd welcomed Rafa with roars even before the Spaniard stepped onto Philippe Chatrier. Although the Spanish player had to endure some challenging moments in the first service game, Nadal was quick to unleash his forehand and start dominating by increasing the intensity with each stroke. After a fantastic start, Marton managed to regain some ground, but the Balearic player kept his distance.

Solid at the baseline, playing with the ball's height to move the Hungarian player on the court as he pleased, Rafa impressed with his game, holding his ground in rallies that could have gotten complicated and fearlessly seizing control of the point to finish with a winning shot. With almost no unforced errors and effective breakpoints, Nadal took the lead by securing the first set.

Nadal aims to finish quickly, but Fucsovics fights back

Rafa's dominance faced a much more precise version of Marton, with the Spaniard struggling to maintain the same solidity in longer rallies. At a different pace, the Hungarian player took control of the match and every point, giving his opponent no rest. Despite a less favorable start for the Spanish player, as the second set progressed, some nerves from Fucsovics began to show, leading to a break that leveled the score. Motivated by the crowd, Nadal left everything on the French clay to try to finish swiftly.

However, it wasn't meant to be. Even though it seemed the set would stretch further, Marton fought back to secure a break that forced a decisive set. In a rollercoaster of emotions, the opportunities that were evident at the beginning of the match were not as visible for Rafa anymore, as he missed all four chances, but he also denied Fucsovics, who was aiming high. Finally, on the fifth attempt, Rafa succeeded, calling for the physio to treat a blister on his finger. The Balearic player's nerves of steel in crucial moments led to another break on the scoreboard, with 4-2 in the third set.

Nadal then took a step forward with an aggressive touch, improved his first serves, and deprived his opponent of time. What a way to finish his debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics where he will meet Novak Djokovic in the second round. The much-anticipated clash that many dreamed of will soon become a reality. For now, Rafa gets to enjoy, at least for a few hours, a hard-fought victory.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La bestia ruge en París