The 2024 Paris Olympics tennis tournament kicked off with dominant performances from top seeds Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros. Djokovic, the world’s second-ranked player and top seed in the men’s draw, made a statement with a commanding 6-0, 6-1 victory over Australia’s Matthew Ebden. The match lasted a mere 53-54 minutes, showcasing Djokovic’s formidable form as he pursues his first Olympic gold medal.Djokovic’s win sets the stage for a potential high-profile second-round clash with his long-time rival, Rafael Nadal. This matchup hinges on Nadal overcoming Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in his opening match. If realized, it would mark the 60th encounter in their storied rivalry, with Djokovic holding a narrow 30-29 head-to-head advantage overall, though Nadal boasts an 8-2 lead at Roland Garros.Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, also advanced to the second round with a straightforward 6-3, 6-1 win over Lebanon’s Hady Habib. In the women’s draw, world number one Iga Swiatek progressed with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Irina-Camelia Begu.Despite his dominant performance, Djokovic used his post-match platform to criticize the Olympic entry rules. He labeled them as ‘not logical’ and ‘not good for the sport’, particularly taking issue with the regulation that players withdrawing from singles after July 19 can only be replaced by athletes already competing in another event. Djokovic expressed hope that the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Olympic organizers would consider revising this rule for future Games.
Key points
- Novak Djokovic won his Olympic opener 6-0, 6-1 against Matthew Ebden.
- A potential second-round match between Djokovic and Nadal could be their 60th encounter.
- Djokovic criticized Olympic entry rules, calling them ‘not logical’ and ‘not good for the sport’.
Contradictions👾Some sources reported the match duration as 53 minutes, while others stated 54 minutes.
