(Dan Tri) - Djokovic needed medical attention twice in the second set, but he still made a spectacular comeback to beat Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6(3) in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Olympics.
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6(3) to reach the men's singles semi-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, but the 37-year-old is facing concerns about whether he will be healthy enough to continue his quest for gold.
Djokovic celebrates his victory over Tsitsipas (Photo: Getty).
Djokovic won the first set comfortably 6-3 after saving the only break point in the fourth game. Tsitsipas did not have a break in the first set. However, the No. 1 seed fell 0-4, then 2-5 in a dramatic second set, in which Djokovic saved three set points and twice called in a physio for treatment on his right knee, the same knee he injured in June at the same Philippe Chatrier. Djokovic withdrew from Roland Garros after a five-set fourth-round win over Francisco Cerundolo and has undergone surgery on his right knee. The 98-time ATP champion fears he may have suffered a similar knee injury in the Olympic quarter-finals. Speaking after the match, Djokovic said: "I tried and found a way to win. I'm really happy to win the match. I hurt my knee at the beginning of the second set, like a few months ago at Roland Garros, when I hurt myself in a match, tried to finish the match winning, but only found out the next day that I tore my meniscus. So I hope it's not like that this time. I don't know. I'm really worried, but I'll let the medical team check, assess the knee. I think tomorrow night I'll play a match at 7pm (Paris time), so I have time to recover and prepare. Hopefully I'll be fit enough to play the semi-finals."
Medical staff take care of Djokovic in the second set (Photo: Getty)
Djokovic moved cautiously and winced in pain throughout the early stages of the second set. He called in the physiotherapist at 0-3 and again at 1-4, after which Djokovic appeared to regain confidence in his movement. Djokovic leads Tsitsipas 12-2 in the head-to-head series and will certainly have a thorough medical assessment ahead of his semi-final against 11th seed Lorenzo Musetti. "I think even if the medical team says it's not good, I'll probably go in and try," Djokovic added. "This is a very rare opportunity to win a medal for my country. So I'm going to do everything I can in the next 24 hours to put myself in a fighting position for Serbia." Musetti beat Olympic champion Alexander Zverev 7-5, 7-5 in the quarter-finals. Djokovic has won six of his seven meetings with Musetti, including three this season. The Belgrade native beat Musetti in the Wimbledon semi-finals.
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