The Novak Djokovic steamroller reaches third round at Olympics as Serbian finds ‘a higher level of tennis’
The Novak Djokovic Golden Grand Slam bid remains alive after the Serbian brushed aside Jan-Lennard Struff to reach the third round of the Tokyo Olympics.
Having already won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon this year, Djokovic needs to win gold in Tokyo and follow it up with success at the US Open to become the first man to win an incredible Golden Grand Slam.
And he is certainly looking the unbeatable at the Games as he beat German Struff 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 15 minutes to win his 11th singles match at the Olympics.
Most men’s singles match-wins at the #Olympics
13 – Roger Federer
12 – Andy Murray
11 – Novak Djokovic 📈@DjokerNole claims sole ownership of 3rd place on the all-time list after seeing off Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4 6-3#Tennis | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/hhPpDUZ2Um— ITF (@ITFTennis) July 26, 2021
“I was struggling with certain things in the first round, but today was far more pleasant to play, just a higher level of tennis on my side,” the world No 1 said after the match.
“I’m very pleased with the way I felt on the court.”
He added: “I think that once you reach the top spots in the rankings and start winning Slams, you’re going to experience different kinds of expectations and pressure from yourself and people around.
“Being a Grand Slam champion and being number one in the world carries a lot of weight.”
Up next is Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after the Spaniard saw off the challenge of John Millman from Australian, winning 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3.
Second seed Daniil Medvedev also advanced as the ROC athlete defeated India’s Samit Nagal 6-2, 6-1 with Fabio Fognini from Italy awaiting in the third round.
The 15th seeded Fognini beat Egor Gerasimov from Belarus 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).
Fourth seed Alexander Zverev produced another solid day at the office as the German beat Daniel Galan from Colombia 6-2, 6-2 to earn a clash against Lorenzo Sonego, who defeated Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
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