Paris: Serbia's tennis legend, Novak Djokovic, emerged victorious in the semi-finals of the men's singles event, delivering a remarkable comeback victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas during the Paris Olympics.
Djokovic's hopes of securing his first Olympic gold medal remained intact as he secured a 6-3, 7-6(7) victory over Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals. Throughout the match, Djokovic was visibly affected, requesting the assistance of the team physiotherapist twice for his right knee.
The veteran tennis player dominated the match from the start, winning the first set comfortably. Tsitsipas, known for his strong backhand game, struggled to match Djokovic's precise forehand shots, allowing the Serbian to maintain control over the match.
Following his victory in the first set, Djokovic began to experience discomfort in his right knee. Despite this, he managed to rally, saving three set points at 4-5 down, trailing by 0-40. He ultimately advanced to the semi-finals with a 7-6(7) win in the second set.
His opponent in the semi-finals will be Lorenzo Musetti, the 11th seed, who has achieved a remarkable upset by defeating the defending Olympic gold medallist, Alexander Zverev.
Musetti overcame Zverev with a 7-5, 7-5 victory in the quarter-finals. Djokovic had previously faced Musetti at Wimbledon in the semi-finals, where he emerged victorious, securing a win in three sets.
Djokovic, who has won an Olympic bronze medal, is now in a position to potentially recreate his Wimbledon 2024 final triumph. Should he win his match against Musetti and Carlos Alcaraz emerges victorious in his final four matches, the two will meet in the gold medal match.
Djokovic also defeated Tommy Paul with a 6-3, 7-6(7) scoreline, securing a spot in the medal match of his Olympic debut.
