It was a dream match between legends, not just a nostalgic treat, that nonetheless summoned up memories and history – at least when it comes to the tennis of the last 20 years. There was sure to be an emotional moment, in hopes that the gameplay itself would rise to that level. A sixtieth duel, perhaps the last. A perfect illustration that the Olympic Games are about excitement, and not just a race for medals.

Under the sun which roasted the packed Court Philippe-Chatrier court at Roland-Garros in Paris, full of Spanish flags and fluttering fans that gave the impression of stands dotted with butterflies, the 15,000 spectators hoped for yet another episode in the saga between eternal rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. On Monday, July 29, the draw provided a dream second-round match between the Serb and the Spaniard, who between them have won 46 Grand Slam titles. A sort of icing on the cake before the dessert of the finals, scheduled for August 3 and 4.

The latest chapter was not a peak of intensity. Perhaps, in time, all that will remain is the memory that it was the last chapter, a far cry from the epic battles waged over more than a decade and a half.

But beyond the fear that Nadal couldn’t deliver, there was still, in the middle of the second set, a crazy period of 15 minutes, with just the right amount of twists and turns, spectacle and the unexpected to provide the illusion that times past were perhaps not quite over. The vast majority of the audience broke into cries of “Rafa! Rafa!” But Djokovic still came out on top against Nadal, in two straight sets (6-1, 6-4) and one hour and 43 minutes of play.

The court had never been so noisy

The raw score does not reflect the emotional rollercoaster that the match became. First of all, there was no match. The first set was wrapped up in just 39 minutes. The games flew by, with Djokovic leading 6-1, 4-0 after an hour and a quarter.

Swept from right to left on the court by the Serb, Nadal looked stifled. His lack of legpower, glimpsed the day before in the first round against Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics, seemed insurmountable. Djokovic, for his part, took great pleasure in racking up drop shots, forcing his opponent into exhausting runs. A few years ago, the Spaniard would have gone for it with appetite. Here, he gave up several times.

In a sign that the situation seemed desperate, the cheers intensified for the Majorcan. Every point won was celebrated as an achievement. The end was in sight, but then it wasn’t. Djokovic, irresistible until then, loosened his grip. A double fault gave his opponent his first break point. Nadal went on to win the second with a crazy point: Djokovic’s smash beautifully saved, then a forehand passing shot that put him back on level terms at 4-4. Nadal’s mental strength is unstoppable. For a few moments, the Court Philippe-Chatrier went wild. It hadn’t been so noisy since the start of the Games.

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