DJOKER ALL SMILES
Novak rolls as Medvedev suffers in extreme heat
Tokyo, July 28: Novak Djokovic set up a quarterfinal with Japan’s Kei Nishikori at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday as gold medal rival Daniil Medvedev struggled with the heat, even asking the chair umpire who would be responsible if he died.
World number one Djokovic continued his bid for a calendar Golden Slam by defeating
34th-ranked Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain 63, 6-1 to extend his winning run to 21 matches.
The Serb, a singles bronze medallist in 2008, faced a quick turnaround as he was due to partner Nina Stojanovic in the mixed doubles later.
Medvedev stayed on course to meet Djokovic in the men’s final as the Russian second seed overcame Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
But the two-time
Grand Slam runnerup, who had urged organisers to delay start times after his opening match, again found the temperatures testing as the extreme weather policy was implemented.
“Even from the first set I didn’t feel good enough with my breathing. I felt like my diaphragm was blocked, I couldn’t breathe properly,” said Medvedev, who took a medical timeout and received two visits from the trainer.
Asked by the umpire if he was OK during the second set, the Russian replied: “I can finish the match, but I can die. If I die, are you going to be responsible?”
“I think it was the most humid day we had so far, maybe the hottest,” added
Medvedev. “The sun was pretty hot. At the end of the second set I just had darkness in my eyes. I was bending over, and I couldn’t get my breathing together. I was ready to just fall down on the court.”
Following a 10-minute interval between the second and third sets, Medvedev broke Fognini and won the first three games of the decider.
He saved three break points at 4-2 before clinching victory, going through to a last-eight clash with Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.
TSITSIPAS SENT PACKING Medvedev renewed calls to start matches later as temperatures peaked at 32 degrees Celsius, with the heat index topping out at 37ºC. “They should start the matches later, I said it from the first round, and I continue saying it,” said Medvedev.
“I heard maybe from tomorrow they’re going to change it, but let’s see.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas bowed out after the Greek third seed lost 2-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 to Frenchman Ugo Humbert.
Tsitsipas required a medical timeout for an injury to his right leg at the end of the second set as Humbert booked a showdown with Russia’s Karen Khachanov.
Nishikori, the 2016 bronze medallist, beat Ilya Ivashka of Belarus 7-6 (9/7), 6-0, while fourth seed Alexander Zverev and Frenchman Jeremy Chardy also progressed.
Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, the highest-ranked player left in the women’s draw, reached the semi-finals with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Camila Giorgi of Italy.