Novak Djokovic continues chase for first gold medal at Paris Olympics | ATP Tour

Match Report

Djokovic continues chase for first gold medal at Paris Olympics

Serbian subsequent performs Greek Tsitsipas

July 31, 2024

Novak Djokovic continued his pursuit of a primary Olympic gold medal on Wednesday on the Paris Olympics, the place he moved previous Germany’s Dominik Koepfer 7-5, 6-3 to succeed in the quarter-finals.

The Serbian defeated rival Rafael Nadal in straight units within the second spherical and backed up his thirty first win in opposition to the Spaniard with a dialled-in efficiency in opposition to Koepfer, advancing after one hour and 37 minutes.

The No. 2 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings, who has received a file 24 main titles and 40 ATP Masters 1000 crowns, is making his fifth Olympics look. Djokovic’s greatest end result got here in Beijing in 2008 when he received a bronze medal. The Serbian, who is keen so as to add an Olympic gold to his trophy cupboard, revealed he’s loving his time in Paris.

“It’s a nice honour to signify my nation on the Olympics. It’s an unbelievable sporting occasion,” Djokovic stated. “We play Roland Garros yearly on this stadium however the crowd, the ambiance, the colors, all the things is totally different. In a great way. The Roland Garros crowd may be very educated and enthusiastic about tennis however the Olympic crowd is one thing totally different.

“Individuals from all around the world come to help their athletes and I believe there are such a lot of totally different nations and nationalities and it’s lovely to see. We’re all celebrating sport and I’m glad to nonetheless keep within the match.”

Looking for the 🥇@DjokerNole information a 7-5 6-3 victory over Koepfer to succeed in the quarter-finals!@Olympics | #Paris2024 | #Tennis pic.twitter.com/gtFztGqoTj

— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 31, 2024

In scorching Parisian situations, Djokovic recovered from squandering a break benefit within the first set, grinding down the German in gruelling baseline rallies within the closing phases of the set to steer. The 37-year-old then received 95 per cent (19/20) of his first-serve factors within the second set to succeed in the final eight in Paris.

Djokovic set free a roar after sealing victory on his first match level with a punched volley. He raised his arms to the sky to absorb the embrace of the Serbian followers inside Court docket Philippe Chatrier, the place quite a lot of Serbian flags had been unfold across the stadium.

“I’m soaking moist. It’s a very humid day, because it was yesterday. I simply hope it rains so it cools down the temperature a bit, the air,” Djokovic stated. “It’s the identical for me and my opponent so you must make one of the best out of it.”

Djokovic will subsequent play eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas after the Greek downed Argentine Sebastian Baez 7-5, 6-1. Djokovic takes a 11-2 Lexus ATP Head2Head lead into his assembly with Tsitsipas, having received their previous 10 conferences.