Djokovic overcomes Tsitsipas and injury to reach semi-finals
The Serb came through 6-3, 7-6 (3) against Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach a fourth Olympic semi-final
Novak Djokovic, Paris Olympics, 2024 Zuma / Panoramic
Novak Djokovic battled both injury and opponent Stefanos Tsitsipas, beating the Greek 6-3, 7-6 (3) to reach the semi-finals of the Olympics.
It is the Serb’s fourth Olympic Games, having also reached the last four in 2008 – when he won his sole bronze medal – 2012 and 2021.
While the scoreline looked straightforward enough, things were complicated for Djokovic by the recurrence of a right knee injury that he required surgery on four weeks prior to Wimbledon earlier this year.
The Serb needed several medical timeouts, the first of which coming when 3-0 down in the second set having comfortably taken the first via an early break.
Despite moving into a 4-0, double-break lead, Tsitsipas was pegged back to parity in the second set – something which will no doubt be the focal point of an inquest into just how the match was not even made competitive against an ailing opponent.
For Djokovic, he moves into his fourth semi-final at the Olympic Games having only emerged from this stage with one bronze medal on three attempts.
