Novak Djokovic, who won, and Rafael Nadal, who lost, met at the net and hugged after playing at the Paris Olympics in the 60th – and possibly last – installment of a record-breaking and often riveting rivalry.

This 6-1 6-4 victory for Djokovic came in only the second round instead of a grand slam final, like nine previous encounters.

And it was not the most scintillating contest, other than for a 20-minute second set push from Nadal after losing 10 of the first 11 games.

Afterwards, neither Nadal, 38, nor Djokovic, 37, was willing to concede they won’t play each other again, even if that seems likely.

Nadal certainly seems as if he could be close to retirement; he’s had two injury-filled seasons, needed hip surgery a little more than a year ago, and spoke in 2023 about 2024 being his farewell.

But he’s not done at these Olympics, pairing with Carlos Alcaraz in doubles for Spain, and said on Monday he’s a bit tired of getting asked every day about his future.

“I cannot live every single day with the feeling that it’s going to be or not going to be my last match. I come here. I try my best. I play,” he said.

“And when I decide to stop playing or when I decide to keep going, I will let you know.”

What was clear for the first 90 minutes against Djokovic is that Nadal was diminished, nowhere near the skilled and ever-hustling version of himself that won a record 14 French Open trophies on the same red clay at Roland Garros.

He acknowledged as much after leaving Court Philippe Chatrier, where fans repeatedly tried to encourage him with chants of “Ra-fa! Ra-fa!”

“Playing against Novak without creating damage to him, and without having the legs of 20 years ago, is almost impossible,” said Nadal.

Djokovic was asked whether this might mark the end of head-to-head competition between the pair.

“Of course it can be, but we don’t know that,” he said.

“I just hope for the sake of our rivalry, and the sport, in general, that we’ll get to face each other once, maybe a few times, on different surfaces, in different parts of the world, because I feel like it can only benefit the sport.”

Djokovic owns 24 major titles, and Nadal 22, the two highest men’s totals in the century-plus history of the sport.

The win keeps the dominant Serbian on track for a meeting with Alcaraz in the singles final: the top two seeds in Paris and last month’s Wimbledon finalists.

Alcaraz beat Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 6-1 7-6 (7-3) to also move into the third round.

Other second-round winners included former French Open finalists Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

In women’s action, Coco Gauff continued her dominant tournament with a 6-1 6-1 dismissal of Maria Loudes Carle of Argentina.

The 20-year-old American has lost just nine games in three matches at Roland Garros, including a doubles win with Jessia Pegula.

“You can’t argue with the scoreline,” Gauff said.

The sole Australian left in singles competition, Alexei Popyrin, plays Stanislas Wawrinka late on Tuesday (AEST).