Novak Djokovic will compete in his fourth quarter-final on the Olympic Video games. Novak confronted Dominik Koepfer within the third spherical and scored a 7-5, 6-3 victory, remaining on the title course and setting the conflict in opposition to Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The Serb made the distinction along with his first serve, taking part in in opposition to solely two break factors and dropping serve as soon as. The Germans fought effectively however couldn’t delay the battle, getting damaged thrice and specializing in doubles duties alongside Jan-Lennard Struff.
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Djokovic kicked off the motion with an ace within the opening recreation, getting his identify on the scoreboard. Koepfer responded with a forehand winner within the second recreation earlier than dealing with points at 1-2. A left-hander missed a routine baseline smash and supplied world no.
2 two break factors. Novak positioned a artful drop shot on the second, drawing Dominik’s mistake and opening a 3-1 benefit. Dominik made a effective response within the fifth recreation, catching Novak’s drop shot and inserting a winner on the internet for 2 break probabilities.
Novak Djokovic is thru to his fourth Olympic Video games quarter-final.
The German attacked on the second, inflicting the Serb’s mistake and pulling the break again.
Koepfer grabbed the sixth recreation with an ace, leveling the rating at 3-3 and producing one other effective maintain two video games later to comply with Djokovic’s tempo. Novak grabbed the ninth recreation at 15, forcing Dominik to serve to remain within the set.
Hitting effectively from each wings, the German landed a artful volley winner within the tenth recreation and closed it with a booming serve for 5-5 and extra drama. The veteran stayed targeted and landed a half-volley winner for a maintain at love and a 6-5 lead, sustaining the strain on the opposite aspect.
Djokovic made a push on the return in recreation 12 and clinched the opening level after Koepfer’s backhand error. The German netted a forehand for 0-30 earlier than inserting two winners. Novak earned a set level after Dominik’s wayward drop shot and drew the rival’s backhand error, delivering a late break and taking the opener 7-5.
Djokovic introduced his A-game on serve within the second set, offering 5 snug holds and mounting the strain on the opposite aspect.
The Serb landed a volley winner within the first recreation and closed it at love with a robust serve. Koepfer felt the strain within the second recreation, dealing with two break factors after Djokovic’s backhand down the road winner. Novak painted a forehand crosscourt return winner, incomes a break and constructing the benefit.
World no. 2 stroke a backhand crosscourt winner, producing one other effective maintain and shifting 3-0 in entrance, rattling off 20 of the earlier 24 factors. Dominik held after deuces within the fourth recreation earlier than Novak grabbed the subsequent one with a backhand crosscourt winner for a 4-1 benefit.
Djokovic closed the seventh recreation at love with a forehand winner, forging a 5-2 benefit and forcing his rival to serve to remain within the match. Koepfer delivered his best maintain in recreation eight, closing it at love with a service winner and hoping for one final likelihood on the return within the subsequent one.
Novak served for the win at 5-3 and welcomed Dominik’s backhand error for 2 match factors. The 24-time Main winner sealed the cope with a artful backhand volley winner on the internet, shifting into the quarter-final and dreaming about profitable the gold medal.
