“When this tournament is over, I will take the necessary decisions based on my feelings and desire,” said Nadal, after suffering a 6-1, 6-4 defeat  in his 60th career meeting with Djokovic.

Nadal, participating in only his seventh tournament this year due to recurring injuries, acknowledged that at 38, he no longer has "the legs of 20 years ago."

The Spaniard, who won Olympic gold in singles in 2008 and doubles in Rio eight years later, claimed his last of 22 Grand Slam titles with his 14th French Open victory in Paris in 2022.

Nadal's ranking, once a proud No. 1, has plummeted to 161 in the world. In May, he endured his first-ever opening-round defeat at the French Open and then opted out of Wimbledon to concentrate on the Olympics. “For many people it makes little sense, I have been suffering for two years,” added Nadal, who described Monday’s loss as “tough.”

“If I feel that I am not competitive I will make the decision to stop. I just try my best every single day, trying to enjoy a thing that I have been enjoying for so much time.

“I have been suffering a lot of injuries the last two years. So if I feel that I am not competitive enough to keep going or physically I’m not ready to keep going I will stop and let you know. Playing against Novak, without creating damage to him and without having the legs of, 20 years ago is, is almost impossible now.”

Despite the loss, Nadal still aims for gold in men's doubles with Carlos Alcaraz. Monday marked Djokovic's 31st win in their rivalry, which started at Roland Garros in 2006. Nadal was outplayed, showing a spark by winning four consecutive games in the second set.

“I’m very relieved,” said Djokovic after the second round win. Back in 2006, I don’t think we would have thought we would be playing against each other on the same court at the Olympics.”