Earlier this week Novak Djokovic described the Tokyo Olympics as ‘so many amazing people in one place’ and he himself is proving to be hit at the Games.
Over the past couple of days the Serbian has been seen speaking to his fellow team mates about the importance of mental strength, doing the splits with a Belgian gymnast in a photo which has gone viral and has taken time to speak with various athletes from different countries. It is safe to say the world No.1 is relishing his Olympic experience, as well as the chance to promote his sport.
“There’s a lot of attention towards tennis as a sport in this Olympic Games,” Djokovic told reporters on Monday. “We are grateful, because we are representing our country, ourselves, but also our sport in the Olympic Village.”
Djokovic continued his campaign for a maiden gold medal by easing to a 6-4, 6-3, win over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff. A player who he also scored three consecutive wins against during the 2020 season. In Tokyo the top seed is more satisfied with his latest win compared to two days ago when he voiced his concerns about playing in the blistering heat.
“I was struggling with certain things in the first round, but today was far more pleasant to play, just a higher level of tennis on my side,” he said.
“I’m very pleased with the way I felt on the court.”
There is more than just a gold medal at stake for Djokovic as he aims to reach a milestone which has never been achieved by a male singles player in the history of tennis. With three major titles under his belt already this year, he is on course to achieve the calendar Golden Slam where a player with all four Grand Slams and Olympic gold within the same year. Only Stefi Graf has done this in the Open Era which was back in 1988.
“I’m obviously very pumped and inspired to make history,” Djokovic states. “I have that guiding star that is there and I see it and it gives me light and it gives me energy but at the same time I better stick to the stuff that I know works well on a daily basis for me.”
The next test for Djokovic will be Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain who experienced a much tougher second round encounter. Fokina battled to a 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-3, win over John Millman after almost three hours of play.
