Novak Djokovic showcased his dominance in his Olympic tennis opener on Saturday, dropping just one game en route to a resounding victory over Australia’s Matthew Ebden. The Serbian star, seeking his first Olympic gold medal to add to his impressive collection of 24 Grand Slam titles, brushed aside Ebden 6-0, 6-1 in a swift 53 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Djokovic’s victory sets up a potential blockbuster clash against his long-time rival, Rafael Nadal, in the next round. The two titans of the sport are set to face off for the 60th time if Nadal can overcome Marton Fucsovics of Hungary on Sunday.
The rivalry between Djokovic and Nadal is one of the most celebrated in tennis history. Djokovic holds a slight edge in their overall head-to-head record, 30-29, but Nadal has dominated their encounters at Roland Garros, winning eight out of ten matches.
Djokovic’s Olympic journey has yielded only a bronze medal in Beijing in 2008. He will be hoping to finally secure gold in Tokyo. Meanwhile, Nadal, who has been battling a thigh strain, will be looking to add another Olympic medal to his already impressive resume.
Ebden, a doubles specialist ranked outside the top 100 in singles, was a late addition to the Olympic tournament after a series of withdrawals due to injuries. He was making his singles return after a two-year absence. Despite the crowd’s support, Ebden was unable to match Djokovic’s power and precision, ultimately falling victim to Djokovic’s dominance.
