How Rafael Nadal overcame Marton Fucsovics test at Paris 2024

“Who says [it’s the] last dance?” Nadal had remarked earlier this week, when asked about possibly meeting Djokovic in the second round.

Nadal remains coy on an exact retirement date, and while this Olympics could even prove to be his last-ever major event, a more pressing concern was the injury he was carrying into the singles.

The Spaniard has been nursing a thigh problem in Paris, and after his winning start with Alcaraz on Sunday he admitted he was unsure whether he would be fit to play against Fucsovics a day later.

But in the end, to the delight of the crowd in Paris, Nadal turned up to play at his second home.

Nadal may be from Spain but he is essentially an honorary Frenchman given his exploits at Roland Garros over the past two decades, and that was evident when he took the Olympic torch from Zinedine Zidane in Friday’s Opening Ceremony.

On that occasion Nadal braved the rain on a boat down the Seine, but on Sunday, Roland Garros was basked in sunshine as one of the greatest male players of all time walked out on Philippe-Chatrier to a huge ovation.

In Fucsovics, Nadal was facing the world number 83 and 2021 Wimbledon quarter-finalist for the very first time, adding another layer of intrigue to this spectacle.

After battling to hold his opening service game, Nadal broke Fucsovics and had this packed crowd gasping when a trademark forehand made it 3-0.

Fucsovics got on the board, but Nadal broke again before sealing a dominant first set 6-1 after 31 minutes.

The second set was then far from one-way traffic as Fucsovics bounced back to break in the second game, and he maintained his advantage by sending Nadal around the court.

It was a severe test of Nadal’s fitness, who had strapping on his right thigh, and he was forced to save two break points to deny Fucsovics a 5-1 lead.

Serving for the set at 5-3 up, Fucsovics felt the pressure, and after losing the point of the match to go 15-30 down, Nadal then brought up two break points, converting the first to bring it back on serve.

Fucsovics squandered two set points as Nadal clung on, but the Hungarian made no mistake with his third to snatch the set 6-4 and force a decider.

A nervy finale unfolded, with Fucsovics saving two break points in the third game before Nadal saved three himself in the very next game.

The crucial break followed, as Nadal edged ahead, battled to a hold shortly after, and converted his third match point to seal the match tennis fans around the world all wanted to see.