Novak Djokovic, the world No. 1 tennis player, kicked off his Paris Olympics campaign in spectacular fashion as he took down Matthew Ebden with a dominant 6-0, 6-1 victory. Despite his convincing win, Djokovic couldn’t help but express his dissatisfaction with a certain rule that he believes is detrimental to the sport of tennis.
In a post-match interview, Djokovic voiced his concerns about the rule that allowed doubles players, like Ebden, to replace singles players who had withdrawn from the Olympics after July 19. The Serbian star described the rule as “not logical” and claimed it “damages” the image of tennis.
The match itself was a display of Djokovic’s prowess on the court, as he swiftly dispatched the Australian Ebden in just 53 minutes. However, what caught the attention of many spectators was the fact that this was Ebden’s first singles match in nearly two years. The 36-year-old Australian, who is a doubles specialist ranked world No. 3 in that category, had focused solely on doubles competitions in recent years.
It was evident during the match that Ebden had lost the rhythm and touch required for singles play, a stark contrast to his past performances when he was a regular on the main-level singles circuit and ranked inside the top 50. Djokovic’s victory highlighted the consequences of the current rule that led to doubles players like Ebden competing in the singles tournament at the Olympics.
Looking ahead, Djokovic expressed his hope that changes would be made to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future. As the top seed in the Paris Olympics, Djokovic’s call for a review of the rules governing player replacements reflects his commitment to upholding the integrity and competitiveness of tennis at the highest level. With his sights set on gold, Djokovic aims to continue his winning streak and make a lasting impact on the sport.
