By Adrianna Outlaw | Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Novak Djokovic dismissed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 6-1 to roar into a quarterfinal clash vs. Kei Nishikori at the Tokyo Olympics.
Photo credit: International Tennis Federation Facebook
A streaking Novak Djokovic continues closing in on his golden dream.
Djokovic cruised through seven of the last eight games dismissing Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 6-1 to roar into the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics—and move within three wins of claiming the gold medal.
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It was Djokovic's 21st straight win and sends him into a blockbuster quarterfinal vs. Japan's Kei Nishikori.
Earlier, world No. 69 Nishikori was a 7-6(7), 6-0 victor over Belarusian Ilya Ivashka.
World No. 1 Djokovic is playing to become the first man to complete the Golden Grand Slam—winning all four Grand Slam crowns and the Olympic gold medal. Steffi Graf, who attained the Golden Grand Slam in 1988, is the only player in history to attain the rare feat.
On a day in which second-seeded Daniil Medvedev struggled with stifling conditions in a three-set win over Fabio Fognini and third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas fell to Ugo Humbert 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-2, Djokovic played oppressive baseline tennis in stopping the Spaniard.
The Wimbledon champion cracked nine aces, dropped just six points on his first serve and denied both break points he faced. Djokovic has not surrended a set in three tournament victories.
The 34-year-old Serbian returned to the court later partnering Nina Stojanovic for a 6-3, 6-4 mixed doubles victory.
Djokovic owns a 16-2 career record vs. Nishikori and has not lost to the Japanese since the 2014 US Open semifinals.
The winner of the Djokovic vs. Nishikori match will play either fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev or Jeremy Chardy in the semifinals.