PARIS, France, August 2 ------ Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz overcame crushing humidity to stay on course for an Olympic final showdown as Rafael Nadal played possibly his final match at Roland Garros. Djokovic, seeking a first Olympic title, defeated German left-hander Dominik Koepfer 7-5, 6-3, becoming the first man to reach four singles quarter-finals at the Games.
Alcaraz brushed aside Roman Safiullin, the Russian playing in Paris as a neutral, 6-4, 6-2. Nadal, who has won 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros, exited Paris after he and Alcaraz were defeated in the men's doubles, going down 6-2, 6-4 to US pair Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram. The 38-year-old Nadal, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, walked off Court Philippe Chatrier applauding all four sides of the stadium. He was later asked whether he had played at Roland Garros for the final time. "Maybe, I don't know. If that's the last time, for me it's an unforgettable feeling and emotions," said the injury-plagued former world number one whose ranking has slumped to 161.
In the women's singles, world number one Iga Swiatek overcame being struck in the body by a full-blooded backhand from Danielle Collins before her American rival retired injured in the final set. Swiatek will face China's Zheng Qinwen, who ended the career of former world number one and three-time major winner Angelique Kerber. The 37-year-old Djokovic has only ever collected a bronze at the Olympics, at Beijing 16 years ago, but he was rarely troubled by his 70th-ranked opponent. "Bringing a medal to Serbia is always a big goal of mine," said Djokovic, who has won three of his 24 Grand Slam crowns on Paris's famous red clay.
Djokovic, who breezed past old rival Nadal in the second round, goes on to face 11th-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas. Djokovic boasts an 11-2 head-to-head record over Tsitsipas, including a victory from two sets down in the 2021 French Open final.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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