BBC viewers hoping to watch Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic’s showdown in the Olympics 2024 tennis tournament were left bemused and angry after coverage of the match disappeared.
Nadal, 38, was competing in what could be his final match at Roland Garros as he took on Djokovic in the second round of the tournament, marking their 60th all-time meeting in their illustrious careers on the clay court in Paris.
For that reason, it would prove to be an unmissable clash for fans watching at home in the UK as the 14-time French Open winner faced off with his 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic.
But after being briefly shown on BBC’s iPlayer streaming platform, the match was replaced by a Team GB Rugby Sevens match against South Africa and did not return.
Fans were left furious with the coverage – or lack thereof – of the Nadal-Djokovic tie and made their feelings clear on social media, with one user branding the move “pathetic.
On X, user @ThePixelGamer32 wrote: “What awful coverage @BBC. You don’t start showing the Nadal Djokovic match, then switch after the first set to another sport. That’s ridiculous.
Another, @CfcJayc, said: “Oi, @BBC @BBCSport @BBCiPlayer- you were broadcasting the Nadal vs Djokovic match and switched it over for the women’s rugby! How is anyone supposed to enjoy anything when you keep switching it over mid-way? There isn’t even a streaming option for it – put it back on!”
@l_dunn1 added: “Emblematic of chauvinistic BBC Olympics coverage to relegate Djokovic vs Nadal, in probably their final ever competitive matchup, to the digital extra channel, and then cut away to the British rugby sevens team getting thrashed by South Africa. pathetic.
Djokovic raced into a 6-1 lead in the first set after overpowering a lethargic-looking Nadal on Court Philippe-Chatrier, with the world No.2 showing his class.
It looked to be heading only one way when Djokovic went 4-0 up in the second set, but Nadal mustered all of his strength to manufacture a valiant fightback to get back on serve at 4-4.
It won’t be the last time Nadal features in the tournament even if he does lose, with the veteran star playing with Carlos Alcaraz in the mens’ doubles second round later this week.
