Medvedev and Djokovic win opening match

The 25-year-old Medvedev, who competes in Tokyo for the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and is seeded number 2, defeated Alexander Bublik from Kazakhstan 6:4, 7:6(8) in his first round match on Saturday.

Gold medal favorite Novak Djokovic also mastered his opening task against outsider Hugo Dellien from Bolivia 6:2, 6:2. The Wimbledon winner is aiming for the next step towards a milestone in Tokyo: The 34-year-old wants to be the first among men's tennis to achieve the Golden Slam. To do this, Djokovic still has to win Olympic gold and win the US Open in September. The top star had already triumphed at the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon this year. Extreme heat takes its toll on athletes In the women's category, Poland's Iga Swiatek progressed effortlessly. The 2020 French Open winner won against the German Mona Barthel 6:2, 6:2. However, the conditions were problematic - heat and high humidity caused problems for practically everyone. “It was pretty hot. Although I had already trained here for a few days, the conditions in the match were different,” said Swiatek, seeded number 6. “Not only was the humidity and temperature harsh, but also the sun. It was really difficult to serve on one side.”

Novak Djokovic had no trouble. © APA/afp / GIUSEPPE CACACE

French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova felt so dizzy during her game against Italian Sara Errani in the second set that she took a medical timeout when the score was 4-1. After the treatment, the Russian completed her confident 6-0, 6-1 victory.

One of the big stars of these games will only be in action on Sunday. Japan's Naomi Osaka's first appearance has been postponed by a day after the gold contender lit the flame for the Olympic Games on Friday evening, providing the highlight of the opening ceremony.

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Medvedev and Djokovic win opening match

Co-favorite Daniil Medvedev started the men's Olympic tennis tournament with a two-set win. Novak Djokovic didn't let anything go wrong either.

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