Paris 2024 Olympics: Tennis top seeds Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek ease into singles second round
Singles top seeds Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek marched into the second round of the rain-affected tennis tournament at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Saturday (27 July).
Persistent rain continued into the second day of the Games resulting in some matches at Roland Garros being delayed and rescheduled for Sunday.
Djokovic got his Paris 2024 Olympics campaign off to a stunning start by beating Australia’s Matthew Ebden and conceding only one game. The number one seed needed just 53 minutes for a comprehensive 6-0, 6-1 win to reach the second round where he could face two-time Olympic champion Rafael Nadal. Nadal will take on Marton Fucsovics in the first round of the singles tournament on Sunday.
Recent French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz of Spain had a dream Olympic debut beating Lebanon’s Hady Habib 6-3, 6-1 before combining with Nadal for their first win as a doubles pair.
Former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev also got off to a winning start with a 6-2, 6-1 over Australia’s Rinky Hijikata.
Queen of clay Swiatek was back at the scene of her fourth French Open triumph last month as she goes in pursuit of a maiden Olympic medal. The world number one navigated the first hurdle beating Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania 6-2, 7-5 to reach the second round.
Swiatek will be looking to finally clinch an Olympic medal for her family after her father, Tomasz, finished seventh overall in the quadruple sculls rowing event at Seoul 1988.
Rio 2016 silver medallist Angelique Kerber was in fine fettle in her opening match beating four-time Grand Slam singles champion Naomi Osaka 7-5, 6-3. Kerber, a three-time major winner, announced she would retire from tennis after the Olympics. The German rolled back the years as she moved across the court with style and grace beating an athlete 10 years her junior.
“Before the Olympics begin, l can already say that I will never forget Paris 2024, because it will be my last professional tournament as a tennis player,” Kerber posted on Instagram. “And whereas this might actually be the right decision, it will never feel that way. Simply because I love the sport with all my heart and l’m thankful for the memories and opportunities it has given me.”
Wimbledon singles finalist Jasmine Paolini of Italy also made a winning start at her first Olympics beating Ana Bogdan 7-5, 6-3.