Novak Djokovic, Serbia’s tennis legend, surged into the semi-finals of the men’s singles event at the Paris Olympics with a remarkable comeback against Stefanos Tsitsipas. Djokovic kept his Olympic gold hopes alive by securing a 6-3, 7-6 victory over Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals, despite battling discomfort in his right knee.
In the first set, Djokovic dominated with his precise forehand shots, winning 6-3. However, he struggled in the second set due to knee pain, leading him to call the physio twice. After falling behind 3-0 and later 1-4, Djokovic received treatment and regained his composure. He saved three set points at 4-5 and ultimately clinched the set 7-6, securing his place in the semi-finals.
Djokovic’s next opponent will be Italy’s 11th seed, Lorenzo Musetti, who caused a major upset by defeating defending Olympic gold medalist Alexander Zverev with a 7-5, 7-5 win. Djokovic recently defeated Musetti in the Wimbledon semi-finals in straight sets.
With an Olympic bronze medal already in his collection, Djokovic is poised to recreate the Wimbledon 2024 final if he advances past Musetti. Should he win and Carlos Alcaraz also reach the final, the two could face off in the gold medal match. Alcaraz secured his semi-final spot by defeating Tommy Paul 6-3, 7-6(7) in his Olympic debut.