Nadal edges past Fucsovics to set up blockbuster Djokovic clash

Rafael Nadal is back to winning ways at Roland-Garros again.

The 38-year-old Spaniard, whose participation in the Olympics was under threat for much of the year because of injury, played a brilliant first set but had to work hard before eventually wearing down Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours, 31 minutes.

It was Nadal’s first win at Roland-Garros – where he has won the French Open 14 times – since 2022 and it sets up a 60th meeting with top seed Novak Djokovic.

“First was really good for me, I played very well, especially with my forehand,” Nadal said. “Then second set, he played better, played with more confidence and I lost a little bit of confidence. He had more rhythm than me.

“2-1, 0-40 (down, in the third set), I really played well. I really came back into the match and at the end, I was feeling good and I was able to close it out.”

Nadal makes brilliant start

Nadal emerged to a standing ovation from the packed crowd inside Court Philippe Chatrier, the 14-time Roland-Garros champion raising his hand to acknowledge the support.

The 38-year-old had expressed frustration with the schedulers, having played his doubles match with Carlos Alcaraz on Saturday evening, leading to suggestions he could even pull out. But he marched through the first set in vintage fashion, ripping winners everywhere, while Fucsovics was off balance, chasing shadows throughout.

Fucsovics raises his intensity

The Hungarian has always been dangerous, though, and he began to attack more, lifting his aggression and to good effect, breaking the Spaniard on his way to a 3-0 and then 4-1 lead in the second set as Nadal made a few more errors.

Nadal saved a couple of break points to reduce the deficit to 4-2 and at 5-3, when Fucsovics served for the set, the 2008 Olympic champion stepped up again, playing an incredible point at 15-15 and then breaking back for 5-4. But having got back on serve, Nadal couldn’t get level and Fucsovics snatched the set as a drop shot fell short.

Nadal takes his chance in decider

Nadal had a chance to get an early break in the third set but Fucsovics saved it with a fine forehand. The Spaniard was frustrated again two games later, when he couldn’t convert two break points and at 2-1, Nadal found himself in a hole, at 0-40.

That was when the 22-time major champion stepped things up, saving all three, holding serve and then, at 3-2, finally taking his chance to break when Fucsovics sent a groundstroke wide, yielding under the pressure.

Nadal held to love for 5-3 and though Fucsovics matched him in his next service game, Nadal held his nerve – as he has done hundreds of times in his career – to serve it out and set up a blockbuster second-round clash with Djokovic.

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