Novak Djokovic says his thumping of Aussie is ‘not picture’ for tennis at Olympics

Novak Djokovic says his thumping of Aussie Matthew Ebden in simply 53 minutes on the Olympics was ‘not picture’ for tennis and demanded a change to the foundations.

For a lot of the afternoon underneath the roof on Court docket Phillippe Chatrier, it was exhausting work for Perth’s 36-year-old doubles specialist Ebden, taking part in his first tour-level singles match for 2 years.

Drafted in to the match as a last-minute alternative, Ebden at all times knew it was mission unattainable’ in opposition to the 24-time grand slam winner.

As he battled at 6-0 4-0 down, the total home saved roaring him on to interrupt his duck, and when Ebden lastly held serve, he broke right into a broad smile, stretched his arms out huge and pulled his yellow Australia shirt over his head to rejoice.

‘I am sorry for Matt, he informed me on the web it was his first match for 2 years and he is formally retired from his singles profession,’ Djokovic stated after finishing the 53-minute rout.

‘Clearly, he is centered on doubles so it was powerful for him.’

The tremendous Serb did not assume the match made a lot sense. 

‘I actually do not perceive the foundations,’ he stated.

‘It is not logical for me that you’ve got somebody withdraws from singles and also you name up a doubles participant to play singles.

‘I do not assume it is a good picture for the game, to be sincere. There are many singles gamers that had loads of time to get right here and will have been referred to as to return.

‘So this half I do not get in any respect. I hope the ITF (Worldwide Tennis Federation) and the Olympics change the rule as a result of it was powerful on Matt. 

‘He hasn’t performed singles in two years.’

One other Australian bit the pink mud simply as shortly later when Rinky Hijikata was trounced 6-2 6-1 by the fourth seed Daniil Medvedev.

As for Djokovic, this was the perfect mild warm-up for a possible second-round thriller with Rafael Nadal, who first should beat Marton Fucsovics in his first-round contest.

‘There’s nice hype round that match,’ smiled Djokovic.

‘It may be a blockbuster, one of many occasions persons are wanting ahead to at this Olympics and I am wanting ahead to what might be our final dance, so to say, on this court docket.’

Nadal later stated he wasn’t positive if he would play the singles, as a result of he desires to offer himself one of the best likelihood to medal.

That’s prone to be in doubles with Carlos Alcaraz, the all-star Spanish staff which defeated Argentina’s Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.

Alcaraz additionally gained his singles, 6-3 6-1 win over Lebanon’s Hady Habib, on the lined Court docket Suzanne Lenglen on a rain-hit programme.

Two different Aussies exited, with Daria Saville and Ellen Perez falling to American first seeds Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula 6-3 6-1.

Within the girls’s singles, four-time main winner Naomi Osaka – who lit the cauldron on the Tokyo Olympics – misplaced her first spherical match to a different multi-slam winner, Angelique Kerber 7-5 6-3.

She appeared to harm her left leg at 4-3 within the second set, failing to win one other recreation.

‘I assume I have to discover ways to win once more. Perhaps that is one thing I forgot do,’ Osaka stated.

After breaks from the game for psychological well being and to offer beginning to her daughter, the previous world No.1 is presently ranked one centesimal.

Iga Swiatek – the three-time reigning French Open champion – additionally gained by, as did Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini.