Novak Djokovic advances to Paris Olympics quarter finals

Despite winning 24 Grand Slam titles, the Serbian tennis star has yet to secure an Olympic gold

Novak Djokovic continues his quest for an elusive Olympic gold medal, advancing to the quarter-finals of the Paris Olympics with a decisive victory over Dominik Koepfer on Wednesday.

Despite having won 24 Grand Slam titles throughout his illustrious career, the Serbian tennis star has yet to secure an Olympic gold, having previously competed in the 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2021 Games.

Djokovic's journey in Paris has been marked by impressive victories, including a significant win over Rafael Nadal and a straightforward 7-5, 6-3 triumph over Matthew Ebden. His match against Koepfer was no different, as Djokovic secured a 7-5, 6-3 win amid the sweltering Parisian heat.

Speaking to media persons, Djokovic expressed his discomfort with the humid conditions and joked about hoping for rain to cool things down.

"I'm soaking wet, honestly," Djokovic said. "It's a very, very humid day today as it was yesterday. I hope it rains so it cools down the temperature a bit and the air. But it is what it is. You have to kind of accept and embrace the conditions; it's the same for you and your opponent."

Djokovic also spoke about the honour of representing his country at the Olympics, noting the unique atmosphere of the Olympic crowd compared to other tournaments. "Absolutely, it feels like it's big competing for your country. It's a great honor to represent my country at the Olympics, an incredible sporting event. We play Roland Garros every year in this stadium, but the crowd, the atmosphere, the colors are different in a good way."

He continued, "I think people come from all over the world to cheer their respective countries and athletes. It's beautiful to see, we're all celebrating sport. And I'm glad to stay in the tournament."

Next up for Djokovic is a challenging match against eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek player has been in fine form, defeating Zizou Bergs, Dan Evans, and Sebastian Baez to reach the quarter-finals. Djokovic has faced Tsitsipas 13 times in his career, winning 11 of those encounters, including their most recent clash at the Australian Open final last year.

Reflecting on his performance against Koepfer, Djokovic noted the intensity of the match and the difficulty posed by the weather conditions. "I’m soaking wet, honestly. It’s a very, very humid day as it was yesterday. I just hope it rains so it cools down the temperature a bit and the air. But it is what it is. You have to kind of accept and embrace the conditions, and it’s the same for you and your opponents so you have to try to make the best out of it."

Djokovic, a three-time French Open champion, showed his dominance on the clay courts at Roland Garros, breaking Koepfer early in the match. Although Koepfer managed to break back, Djokovic ultimately took the first set 7-5. The second set saw Djokovic surge into a 3-0 lead, eventually sealing the win without dropping a set in three rounds of tennis in Paris.

Despite wearing strapping on his right knee following an operation in June, the 37-year-old remains focused on his goal of winning his first trophy in 2024. Having secured a bronze medal in his Olympic debut in 2008, Djokovic is determined to add an Olympic gold to his staggering collection of trophies.