Djokovic Dominates Olympic Opening
The Grand Slam record champion from Serbia could face Rafael Nadal in the next match.
The Grand Slam record champion from Serbia could face Rafael Nadal in the next match.
Novak Djokovic launched into the Olympic tennis tournament in Paris with a powerful display. The Grand Slam record champion, who still lacks Olympic gold in his unique collection, decisively defeated Australian Matthew Ebden with 6:0, 6:1 at Roland Garros.
Also progressing easily were French Open winners Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek. The matches took place under closed roofs while it rained outside.
Djokovic (37) had injured his knee at the Grand Slam tournament in Paris, but after surgery and a quick recovery, he reached the finals again at Wimbledon.
Olympics: Will Djokovic Face Nadal?
This season, however, he is still waiting for his first title, yet Djokovic said before the tournament began: “My expectations are always high, I can’t and won’t change that.” In the second round, he could already face his long-time rival, Rafael Nadal (38).
His doubles partner Alcaraz (21) continued his winning streak on the red clay of Roland Garros. After his triumph in early June with the final victory over Alexander Zverev (Hamburg), Alcaraz also won his Olympic opening match against outsider Hady Habib from Lebanon. In the match ending 6:3, 6:1, the world number 275 did at least a little better than Ebden against Djokovic.
Swiatek celebrated her 22nd consecutive win at the French Open venue on Saturday. The 23-year-old Pole defeated Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu with 6:2, 7:5. The route to gold only goes through the four-time Roland Garros winner.
Her final opponent from June was also in action on Saturday: Italy’s Jasmine Paolini won against Ana Bogdan (Romania) 7:5, 6:3.