Paris Olympics: Novak Djokovic storms into quarters with straight-set win over Dominik Koepfe, becomes 1st player in history to do this

Novak Djokovic scripts history

Djokovic's victory over Germany's Dominik Koepfer by a score of 7-5, 6-3 also made him the oldest quarterfinalist in the tournament's history. With 16 Olympic wins under his belt, Djokovic is now eyeing his first gold medal. Djokovic's journey to the quarterfinals has been impressive, including a notable win over Rafael Nadal. Despite his illustrious career, Djokovic has faced Olympic disappointment in the past. He won bronze in Beijing 2008 but narrowly missed out on the podium in London 2012 and Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020.

"It is a great honour to represent my country at the Olympics. It is an incredible sporting event. We play Roland Garros every year in this stadium but the crowd, the atmosphere, the colours, everything is different. In a good way. The Roland Garros crowd is very knowledgeable and passionate about tennis, but the Olympic crowd is something different,” Djokovic said after the win.

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Djokovic's Mastery on Display

Facing the scorching Paris heat, Novak Djokovic showcased his exceptional resilience and skill. After overcoming an early break, he dominated the baseline rallies, eventually securing the first set against his German opponent. Despite a momentary lapse, Djokovic's unwavering determination propelled him to a dominant performance in the second set.

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Djokovic's supremacy was on full display during the crucial second set. He won a remarkable 95 per cent of his first-serve points, converting 19 out of 20 opportunities. This dominance secured his place in the quarterfinals. His powerful serves and decisive play further cemented his status as a formidable force in tennis. Next, Djokovic will face a stern test against Stefanos Tsitsipas. With an impressive 11-2 head-to-head record against the Greek, Djokovic enters the match as the favorite. Djokovic recently made it to the Wimbledon 2024 final. However, he lost his shot at his 25th Grand Slam after going down to Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets.

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