Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are shunning crushing humidity to stay on course for a gold medal match at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday as Zheng Qinwen ended the career of former world number one Angelique Kerber.
Djokovic, seeking a first Olympic title at Roland Garros to add to his record-breaking collection, defeated left-handed German Dominic Kupfer 7-5, 6-3 to reach the four singles quarterfinals in the Games. Became the first player to reach
Carlos Alcaraz set up another showdown with Novak Djokovic after beating unseeded Russian Roman Cefilin 6-4, 6-2 in Paris.
In women's singles, Zeng defeated Kerber 6–7 (4/7), 6–4, 7–6 (8/6) to become the second Chinese player to reach the semifinals of an Olympic singles.
Djokovic, 37, only won bronze at the Olympics in Beijing 16 years ago but was rarely troubled by his 70th-ranked opponent.
Im soaking wet, honestly said Djokovic, who has won three of his 24 Grand Slam crowns on Paris's famous red clay.
It's a very, very humid day like it was yesterday. But you have to accept the conditions and accept them and try to make the best of it.
Djokovic, who overcame old rival Rafael Nadal in the second round, will face 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Djokovic has an impressive 11-2 record against Tsitsipas, including a straight-sets win in the 2021 French Open final.
I erased it said Tsassipas when asked to recall the heartbreaking defeat.
I can see that he is motivated for this Olympics but I want to come on the court and show that I am a capable player on clay courts.
Despite his confidence, Tsitsipas has not beaten Novak Djokovic in nearly five years, with the world number two claiming the last 10 meetings while French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz is yet to drop a set at the Paris Olympics. has overtaken the 66th ranking. Safiullah in 90 minutes.
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Alcaraz broke serve four times and sealed the victory with his fifth ace of the match.
I am really happy with the way I managed everything during the match. The conditions were really tough with the heat and it was really humid Alcaraz said.
Next up for Alcaraz is Tommy Paul, the American he beat in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Paul advanced to the last eight by defeating Corinton Maute, whose defeat ended all French interest in five Olympic tennis events.
Australian Open runner-up Zheng became the first Chinese woman to reach the singles semifinals since Li Na in 2008.
Her three-hour victory, in which she outlasted 64 winners sent 36-year-old former world number one Kerber, who was a silver medalist at the 2016 Rio Games into retirement.
What can I say? I gave it my all said Kerber, who has fallen to No. 212 in the world rankings. I love playing tennis. Now I can go in peace.
Anna Karolina Schmidlova is the first Slovakian to reach the semifinals of the Olympics since Miloslav Macier won the men's singles title in Seoul in 1988.
67th-ranked Schmidlova beat Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejkova in straight sets.
Later on Wednesday, four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek can claim her 25th straight win at Roland Garros by reaching the semi-finals of the Olympics for the first time when she takes on Danielle Collins of the United States.
In the remaining women's quarterfinals, Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk will face Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vec of Croatia.
Defending men's champion Alexander Zverev, the third-seeded German, plays Australia's Alexey Popairin, while fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev, also competing as a neutral, takes on Canada's Felix Auger-Iliasime.
Nadal, chasing a third Olympic gold medal, is playing for the fifth straight day as he and Alcaraz eye a place in the men's doubles semifinals.
The Spaniard faces a tough tie in the last eight against fourth seed Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram of the United States.
