Tokyo Olympics Tennis: Djokovic Starts Campaign With a Win

Djokovic is eyeing for Olympic Gold this time to progress in his journey of Golden Slam. Image used for representational purposes. 

IANS

Men's world No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia and women's world No. 8 Iga Swiatek of Poland won their opening-round matches in the Olympics tennis event at the Ariake Tennis Park here on Saturday, 24 July.

Daniil Medvedev, representing the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) team since Russia is banned, also won his first-round match against Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, 6-4, 7-6 (8). Medvedev will now face India's Sumit Nagal in the second round. Nagal beat Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4.

Among other winners in the men's section were Italian Lorenzo Sonego, who beat Taro Daniel 4-6, 7-6(6), 7-6 (3), ROC's Aslan Karatsev, who beat Yuichi Sugita 6-4, 6-3.

Besides Iga in the women's section, the Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova beat Kazakh opponent Zarina Diyas, who retired in the first set after trailing 2-5, Switzerland's Belinda Bencic beat Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-3 and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of the ROC thumped Italy's Sara Errani 6-0, 6-1.

Maria Sakkari of Greece and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan also won their first-round matches in straight sets.

Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic had a tough outing against Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands, winning in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.