Tokyo: Novak Djokovic breezed past Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-2, 6-0 on Thursday to move into the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics.The No. 1 seed in the tournament, Djokovic, of Serbia, needed just 72 minutes to defeat Nishikori behind three aces and five service breaks. And he had a message for No. 4 Alexander Zverev of Germany, his opponent in the semifinal.
Matches are not getting easier, but my level of tennis is getting better and better, Djokovic told ITFtennis.com. I know that I’m kind of a player that the further the tournament goes, the better I’m feeling on the court. That’s the case here. (It was) my best performance of the tournament tonight against a very good opponent.
Zverev also cruised through the quarterfinals, topping Jeremy Chardy of France 6-4, 6-1 in 67 minutes.
The second semifinal will feature the sixth seed, Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta, and No. 12 seed Karen Khachanov, representing the Russia Olympic Committee.
Carreno Busta upset ROC’s Daniil Medvedev, the No. 2 seed, 6-2, 7-6 (5). Khachanov outlasted No. 14 seed Ugo Humbert of France 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3.
Djokovic, who has won the first three Grand Slam tournaments of the year, needs to win the Olympic gold medal and the U.S. Open to join Steffi Graf of Germany (1988) as the only winners of tennis’ Golden Slam.