By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Thursday, August 1, 2024
Novak Djokovic recovered from a 1-4econd-set deficit and saved three set points defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6(3) to reach the Olympic semifinals.
Photo credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty
A second-set stress test came for Novak Djokovic today.
Facing danger deja vu, the top-seeded Serbian calmly subdued a sharp foe and stinging right knee issue to keep his golden dreams alive.
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A driven Djokovic recovered from a 1-4 second-set deficit and saved three set points defeating Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6(3) in a topsy-turvy test on Court Philippe Chatrier to charge into the Paris Olympics semifinals.
The 37-year-old Serbian superstar is the oldest player to reach the Olympic singles semifinals since tennis returned as an Olympic sport at the 1988 Seoul Games.
While Djokovic fans should be celebrating a cloud of concern swirls as Djokovic apparently aggravated his surgically-repaired right knee early in the second set. Initially limping, Djokovic was moving better and sliding by the latter stages today but admits he's not sure how the knee will hold up in tomorrow's semifinals.
Afterward, Djokovic said he's "honestly concerned" about the state of his knee and plans to undergo and exam, but said he plans to take the court for tomorrow's semifinals.
“Somehow I dug deep and found a way,” Djokovic told Peacock's Britney Eurton. “I’m really glad I managed to win the match. I had a scare, early in the second set, with the knee.
"Kind of a deja vu from what happened a few months ago in Roland Garros when I managed to injure myself in a match. I managed to finish the match victorious but only to find out the next day that I tore my meniscus.
"So I’m hoping that’s not the case this time—I don’t know I’m honestly concerned—but I'm going to let the medical team evaluate the knee, do an examination.
“Tomorrow, I think I’m playing a night match at 7 p.m. so I have some time to recover and get ready. Hopefully, I’ll be able to be physically fit for the semis.”
Continuing his quest to win a maiden Olympic gold medal, Djokovic will face stylish Italian Lorenzo Musetti in a semifinal rematch of last month’s Wimbledon semifinals.
Earlier, the 11th-seeded Musetti ended Olympic gold-medal champion Alexander Zverev’s reign with a 7-5, 7-5 triumph.
Grand Slam king Djokovic dismissed Musetti 6-4, 7-6(2), 6-4 in the Wimbledon semifinals—his sixth win in seven meetings vs. the 22-year-old Italian. Djokovic has twice scored five-set wins over Musetti at Roland Garros and will now face the challenge of trying to defeat the world No. 16 after apparently aggravating his surgically-repaired right knee in the second set of today’s win.
Djokovic, who underwent right knee surgery in Paris on June 5th, played one of his best sets of the season taking the opening set today with the familiar gray brace around his right knee.
Then, in the second game of the second set, Djokovic slipped running on the baseline and his right knee seemed to buckle slightly.
A hobbled Djokovic twice took visits from the trainer to treat his knee and played on, sometimes shortening points resorting to the drop shot. Tsitsipas opened a 4-1 second-set lead and eventually served for the second set at 5-3 triple set point.
A resolute Djokovic broke back then rolled through seven of the last eight points in the tiebreaker to close a tough two hour, three minute triumph.
“I think even if [the doctor] says it’s not OK I’ll probably get on the court and give it a try,” Djokovic said. “These are very rare chances to fight for medal for my country so I’m gonna do everything possible in the next less than 24 hours to do my best to fight for a medal for Serbia."
This quarterfinal was a rematch of the 2021 French Open final that saw Tsitsipas take a two-sets to love lead.
Fighting from two sets down for the first time in a Slam final, a determined Djokovic defeated a valiant Tsitsipas 6-7(6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 capturing his 19th major championship on that day.
Today, a confident Djokovic drew first-break blood curling a crosscourt forehand to break for a 3-1 lead.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion’s skill sweeping open angles off both wings is one reason why he’s dominated this match up.
Moving the Greek with a sharp backhand, Djokovic stepped in and swatted a forehand winner behind his opponent to back up the break for 4-1.
Measuring his two-hander, Djokovic torched a backhand bolt down the line, holding for 5-2.
Playing determined defense, Djokovic dashed to his right, ran down a Tsitsipas smash and smacked a crosscourt forehand pass to snatch the opening set in style.
Two games into the second set, Tsitsipas made his move. Applying pressure to the Serbian’s serve, Tsitsipas caught a break when Djokovic’s left foot slipped on the line, his right knee bore the burden as he crumbled to regain balance and shoveled a shot wide. That miss gave Tsitsipas the break and a 2-0 second-set lead.
In the ensuing game, Djokovic was limping a bit and grimacing noticeably after apparently aggravating his knee injury. Though Djokovic earned double break point in the third game, Tsitsipas saved both holding firm for 3-0.
On the ensuing changeover, Djokovic called for a medical timeout. The trainer stretched his right leg and worked on his surgically-repaired knee.
When play resumed, Djokovic tried the serve-and-volley but pushed a forehand volley wide ceding a second straight break and 4-0 lead to the Greek.
The top seed broke back at love then called for the trainer again. Resorting to the drop shot more frequently, Djokovic erased a couple of break points before hammering a backhand winner to hold for 2-4.
Serving to force a third set, the man wearing the white adidas headband was up 40-love and poised to force a final set.
Djokovic had other ideas and elevated his game. Tsitsipas put a forehand into net as Djokovic earned a second break point. Djokovic looped a crosscourt forehand and Tsitsipas netted his running reply as the Serbian broke back for 4-5 after 97 minutes of play.
Tsitsipas showed his defensive skills and Djokovic netted a bounce smash from the baseline prompting Chatrier fans to chant “Tsitsipas! Tsitsipas!”
Moving with more conviction than he had earlier in the set, Djokovic dabbed a dropper and hit a sliding stretch volley to hold and level the set 5-all.
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Djokovic lashed an ace closing a love hold to force the second-set tiebreaker.
The No. 8 seed went up 2-0 in the tiebreaker, but sabotaged his cause, netting a backhand, shanking a backhand error and double-faulting to give the Serbian a 3-2 lead.
Elevating under pressure, Djokovic used the drop shot and smash to go up 5-3 then blistered a backhand crosscourt for match points at 6-3. Whipping the wide serve, Djokovic returned to the Olympic semifinals for the fourth time in two hours, three minutes.