Novak Djokovic says his crushing defeat to Australia’s Matthew Ebden in just 53 minutes at the Olympics did not reflect “well” on tennis and has demanded a rule change.
It was hard work for the 36-year-old Ebden, a doubles specialist from Perth, for most of the afternoon under the shelter of Court Phillippe Chatrier, playing his first tour-level singles match in two years.
Ebden was called up as a last-minute replacement for the tournament, but knew it was an impossible mission against the 24-time Grand Slam winner.
Trailing 6-0 and 4-0, the packed house kept urging him to break serve. When Ebden finally held serve, a broad smile spread across his face, he stretched his arms wide and pulled his yellow Australia shirt over his head in celebration.
“I’m sorry for Matt. He told me at the goal that this was his first match in two years and that he had officially retired from singles,” Djokovic said after completing the 53-minute victory.
‘He was clearly focused on the double, so it was tough for him.’
The great Serb felt the match was pointless.
“I really don’t understand the rules,” he said.
Novak Djokovic says his crushing victory over Australian Matthew Ebden in just 53 minutes at the Olympics was ‘not a good image’
Matt Ebden played his first tour-level singles match in two years
‘I don’t think it’s logical that someone retires from singles and you call up a doubles player to play singles.
“I don’t think it’s a good image for the sport, to be honest. There are a lot of singles players who had plenty of time to get here and could have been called up.
“So this part I don’t understand at all. I hope the ITF (International Tennis Federation) and the Olympics change the rule because it was tough for Matt.
“He hasn’t played singles in two years.”
Another Australian succumbed to defeat shortly afterwards as Rinky Hijikata was defeated 6-2 6-1 by fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev.
For Djokovic, this was an ideal, quiet warm-up for a potential second-round thriller with Rafael Nadal, who must first beat Marton Fucsovics in his first round.
“There’s a lot of hype around that match,” Djokovic laughs.
“It could be a blockbuster, one of those events that people look forward to at the Olympics. I’m looking forward to what could be our last dance on this court.”
The Serbian superstar said he hopes the rules will be changed because they don’t make sense
Nadal later said he was not sure yet whether he would play the singles, as he wanted to give himself the best chance of a medal.
That will probably be in a doubles match with Carlos Alcaraz, the Spanish star team that defeated Argentinians Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.
Alcaraz also won his singles match 6-3 6-1 against Lebanese Hady Habib on the indoor court of Suzanne Lenglen in a rain-affected match.
Two other Australians had to drop out: Daria Saville and Ellen Perez lost to American top seeds Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula 6-3 6-1.
In the women’s event, four-time major winner Naomi Osaka, who sparked the Tokyo Olympics, lost her first-round match to another multi-slam winner, Angelique Kerber, 7-5 6-3.
At 4-3 in the second set she seemed to injure her left leg and was unable to win another game.
“I think I need to learn how to win again. Maybe I forgot,” Osaka said.
After taking a break from the sport due to her mental health and the birth of her daughter, the former world number 1 is now ranked 100th.
Iga Swiatek, the three-time reigning Roland Garros champion, also won, as did Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini.
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