Novak Djokovic spent 53 minutes on the court in the first round in Paris
The top seed Novak Djokovic kicked off his fifth Olympic Games with a rock-solid 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Matthew Ebden on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Novak dominated the doubles specialist and sealed the deal in 53 minutes, passing the first obstacle in Paris and moving into the second round.
Djokovic barely lost a point behind the initial shot and turned 63% of the return points into six breaks from nine opportunities. Novak dropped three points in his games in the opening set, mounting the pressure on Matthew.
Ebden could not follow that pace, serving at 47% and barely taking a couple of points, suffering three breaks and experiencing a bagel. Novak created two break points in the first game of the encounter and converted the first after Matthew’s careless volley at the net.
Djokovic closed the second game after a deuce with a backhand down the line winner and made another push on the return at 2-0.
Ebden missed a drop shot and lost serve after Djokovic’s backhand down the line winner.
Novak held at love in the fourth game and generated his third break of serve in the next one after Matthew’s loose drop shot attempt. World no. 2 served for the set at 5-0 and landed an ace for three set points. Djokovic fired another powerful serve, holding at love and delivering a bagel after 25 minutes.
The Aussie went for an underarm Serb at 0-40 in the first game of the second set, dropping serve at love after the Serb’s volley winner at the net and extending his downfall. Djokovic held at love in the second game, rattling off 13 points and marching toward the top.
Ebden fought in the third game, defending break points and creating a game point, eager to bring his name to the scoreboard.
Novak denied the rival’s game point with a forehand winner and converted the third break point after the rival’s double fault. Djokovic dropped the opening two points of the fourth game before rattling off four points and closing it with a service winner, taking the opening ten games of the duel.
The Aussie played his best game at 0-4., taking it at love after the Serb’s forehand error and avoiding a bagel. Djokovic grabbed the sixth game at love with a volley winner, moving 5-1 up and forcing his rival to serve to stay in the match.
Novak created a match point with a volley winner and converted it with a backhand down the line winner, sealing the deal and sailing into the second round.
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