Novak Djokovic stays on course for the elusive Olympic glory
The Hindu
Novak Djokovic advances to Olympic singles quarterfinals, aiming for deeper run; Alcaraz and Swiatek also progress.
PARIS
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reached the Olympic singles quarterfinals for a record fourth time by beating Germany’s Dominic Koepfer 7-5, 6-3 on Wednesday but looked in the mood to go much deeper in the tournament.
It was Djokovic’s 16th career singles win at the Olympics — the most by any player since tennis returned to the Games in 1988.
For all his 24 Grand Slam titles and countless other accolades, the Olympics has never been especially kind to the 37-year-old for whom a bronze medal remains his only souvenir.
If he beats Stefanos Tsitsipas, who got past Argentina’s Sebastian Baez 7-5, 6-1, in the next round, Djokovic will be in his fourth Olympic singles semifinal.
Later, second seed Carlos Alcaraz also reached the quarterfinals by breezing past Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-2.
There were mixed fortunes for American men on day five of the tournament as Tommy Paul ended French hopes of a medal by beating Corentin Moutet 7-6(5) 6-3 but Taylor Fritz could not join him, going down 7-5 6-4 to Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti.