Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain advanced to the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, keeping them on a collision course for a spectacular matchup.
With his dreams of winning the Olympic championship likely in shambles, Djokovic defeated Dominic Koepfer of Germany 7-5 6-3 to make it to the Games’ last eight for a record fourth time.
The 21-year-old Alcaraz, who was ranked number two, then defeated Russian Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-2.
Top-seeded Iga Swiatek in the women’s singles category became the first Polish tennis player to go to the semifinals, despite being scared off by American Danielle Collins, who had to retire in the third set after suffering a medical problem.
The men’s singles tournament is still full of well-known names, with Norway’s sixth seed Casper Ruud advancing to face Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada and Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas scheduled to face Djokovic in the round of eight.
However, the women’s singles continued to provide shocks. Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova, the Wimbledon champion, was defeated 6-4, 6-2 by Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, who made history by being the first Slovak to advance to the Olympic singles semifinals since Miloslav Mecir in 1988.
Zheng Qinwen put an end to Germany’s Angelique Kerber’s incredible career in a dramatic battle to follow in Li Na’s footsteps, who advanced to the Beijing Games’ singles semifinals in 2008.
Zheng lost three straight match points in the third set as the seasoned Kerber courageously held on in the oppressive heat. Nevertheless, Kerber eventually prevailed 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(6), with Zheng fainting to the red clay in shock as Kerber’s final shot found the net.
Kerber, a three-time Grand Slam winner, declared last week that she would step down following the Paris tournament.
Swiatek was in command as she prevailed 6-1 in the first set but lost 6-2 in the second to a determined Collins. In the decider, the Pole was hit by a ball early on but recovered to lead 4-1. Eighth seed Collins then concluded she could not go any further.
The 37-year-old Djokovic has never had much luck at the Olympics, despite his 24 Grand Slam victories and innumerable honours; his lone memento is a bronze medal.
However, he hasn’t dropped a set yet and appears eager to fill the lone empty spot in his gigantic trophy cabinet.
The mood on a steamy centre court was more subdued than it had been during Djokovic’s previous round against his claycourt rival Rafa Nadal, as he easily defeated 30-year-old Koepfer despite some early difficulties.
Up until he blew two poor opportunities in the opening set, 5-6, Koepfer was level with the Serb. After that, Djokovic cruised to his 16th career Olympic singles victory, the most by any player since tennis returned to the Games in 1988.
Djokovic’s opponent in the fourth Olympic singles semifinal is eighth-seeded Tsitsipas, who defeated Sebastian Baez of Argentina. When they last faced off at Roland Garros, it was in the 2021 French Open final, where Tsitsipas led by two sets before losing in five.
Alcaraz, making his Games debut, has also progressed unhindered to the quarterfinals, hoping to add Olympic gold to his Wimbledon and French Open victories.
He easily defeated Safiullin and set himself up for his men’s doubles quarterfinal on Court Philippe Chatrier with Rafael Nadal.
Casper Ruud of Norway, the fifth seed, will be vying for a medal after defeating Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina to advance to the quarterfinals. Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, who had lost seven straight meetings to Daniil Medvedev of Russia, will face Ruud in the quarterfinals after finally ending his losing streak 6-3 7-6(5).
On day five of the competition, American fortunes were mixed. While Tommy Paul defeated Corentin Moutet 7-6 6-3 to deny France a medal, doubles partner Taylor Fritz was unable to join Paul in the final eight, losing 6-4 7-5 to Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti.
More heartbreak for Coco Gauff followed when the top-seeded American and her partner, Jessica Pegula, lost to Czech duo Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova in
the second round of the women’s doubles.
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