Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, which resulted in numerous tournaments being postponed and canceled in 2020, the Tokyo Olympics were also postponed by twelve months this year.
Four years ago, Andy Murray from Scots won his second consecutive gold medal in singles at the Rio de Janeiro Games in Brazil, a record that is very difficult to break. In a new interview, also published by EssentiallySports, Rafael Nadal, number 2 in the world, recalled his participation in Beijing 2008.
Nadal: “The atmosphere at the Olympic Games is unique”
In 2008, the year of Rafa’s final consecration to the Olympic Tennis Games, the Spaniard defeated Potito Starace, Lleyton Hewitt, Igor Andreev, Jürgen Melzer, Novak Djokovic and the Chilean Fernando González and won the first (and only) Olympic medal in his individual career : “Gonzalez, my rival in the Beijing final, was a very good player,” said Nadal.
“I played against Djokovic in the semi-finals, while I think Federer lost to Berdych. I enjoyed the Olympics to the full, it’s a completely different event than any other tournament.
Former ATP number 1 continued: “You have a responsibility because you also play for your country and not just for yourself” Nadal did not participate in the following London Olympics in 2012, while he dated the 2016 semi-finals in Rio Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro was defeated, who won the third set on the comeback.
In the challenge for the bronze medal, Rafa was surprisingly beaten in three sets by the Japanese Kei Nishikori. In Brazil, Novak Djokovic, the top seed, lost sensationally in the first round against del Potro with a double 7: 6.
2020 was a particularly satisfying season for Rafa, who stamped his thirteenth seal at Roland Garros and finally achieved Roger Federer’s slam record with 20 titles. Photo credit: MARCA
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