Novak Djokovic booked his place in the quarter-finals at Paris 2024. GETTY IMAGES

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz both advanced to the quarter-finals of the men’s singles at Paris 2024. Djokovic, the veteran, and Alcaraz, the rising star, continue their quest for Olympic glory as the tournament reaches its crucial stages.

Serbian Djokovic secured a spot in the Olympic singles quarter-finals for a record fourth time with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Germany's Dominic Koepfer on Wednesday, having previously dispatched Rafael Nadal. Despite his impressive haul of 24 Grand Slam titles and numerous accolades, the Olympics have not been particularly generous to the 37-year-old, who has only won a bronze medal so far.

Paris 2024 is likely Djokovic's final chance to complete his trophy collection, and his campaign is progressing smoothly at Roland Garros, where he has yet to lose a set across three rounds. If he defeats Stefanos Tsitsipas in the next round, Djokovic will reach his fourth Olympic singles semi-final.

Djokovic booked his place in the quarter-finals of the men's singles at the Olympics. GETTY IMAGES
Djokovic booked his place in the quarter-finals of the men's singles at the Olympics. GETTY IMAGES



His only medal in this event came at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Eighth seed Tsitsipas, who advanced by defeating Argentina's Sebastian Baez, will be a tough opponent. Tsitsipas previously led Djokovic 2-0 in sets during the 2021 French Open final before losing in five.

"I don't expect anything less than a big fight and a tight match," Djokovic said ahead of Thursday's match. "The goal is to reach the finals and compete for the gold."

Alcaraz, meanwhile, breezed past Roman Safiullin to secure a spot in the quarter-finals, following his win over Hady Habib in the third round. The Spaniard was focused and decisive on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, defeating the world No. 66 with a score of 6-4, 6-2 in just 90 minutes. Following victory in a championship tiebreak in the doubles with Rafael Nadal the previous night, he will face Tommy Paul next.

Men's singles results

In the rest of the men's singles Round of 16, Tsitsipas triumphed 7-5, 6-1 against Sebastian Baez, as Lorenzo Musetti defeated Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-5. Felix Auger-Aliassime, meanwhile, got past Daniil Medvedev, winning 6-3, 7-6. Corentin Moutet edged out Tommy Paul 7-6, 8-6. 

Meanwhile, later in the day, Germany's Alexander Zverev overcame Alexei Popyrin in two sets winning 7-5, 6-3 and Casper Ruud did the same to Francisco Cerundolo winning 6-3,6-4.

Zheng Qinwen sails into the semi-finals

Zheng Qinwen became only the second Chinese player to reach an Olympic singles semi-final on Wednesday, ending the career of former world number one Angelique Kerber. 

Zheng, the world No. 7, came back from a breakdown in the final set to secure a 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) victory on her fourth match point. Before Zheng, only Li Na had reached an Olympic singles semi-final for China, achieving the feat at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Zheng Qinwen was ecstatic after her victory. GETTY IMAGES
Zheng Qinwen was ecstatic after her victory. GETTY IMAGES

The first set saw six breaks of serve before 36-year-old Kerber, a silver medallist from 2016, clinched the tie-break. Zheng fought back to level the match but found herself 4-1 down in the final set. She broke Kerber to love in the seventh game, equalising and pushing the set to a tie-break. 

Zheng, who hit 64 winners, led 6-3 but missed three match points. In a dramatic finish on Court Philippe Chatrier, Zheng converted her fourth match point, ending Kerber's career with a netted forehand.

German Kerber, currently ranked 212th in the world, revealed last week that she would retire after the Games, having returned from maternity leave earlier this season. “What can I say? I gave everything,” she reflected. “I have loved playing tennis. Now I can leave in peace.”



Women's singles

In the other women’s singles quarter-finals, Angelique Kerber edged out Qinwen Zheng in a marathon 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 6-8 battle. Anna Karolina Schmiedlova defeated Barbora Krejcikova 6-4, 6-2. Iga Swiatek defeated Danielle Collins, after a 6-1 triumph in the first set, Collins fought back to win 6-2 in the second, though the Pole managed a 4-1 victory in the third, with Collins retiring.

Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk was knocked out by Donna Vekic of Croatia with the latter winning an entertaining last set with a tiebreak to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-7.

Men's doubles

In the men’s doubles quarter-finals, Tomas Machac and Adam Pavlasek from the Czech Republic defeated Germany’s Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 3-6, 6-1, 10-5. Matthew Ebden and John Peers of Australia defeated Germany's Dominik Koepfer and Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4).

In the Round of 16, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul from the United States triumphed over Robin Haase and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands winning 6-3 and 6-4.

Nadal's Roland Garros swansong came to an end as the Spanish duo that has been dubbed 'Nadalcaraz' were beaten in two sets losing 2-6, 4-6 to American pair Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram.

Doubles defeat dashes Coco Gauff's medal hopes 

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula of the USA were defeated by Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic in a thrilling women’s doubles second-round match at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Gauff and Pegula took the first set 6-2, but Muchova and Noskova rallied to win the rain-delayed second set 6-4. The Czech duo then secured the tie-breaker 10-5 to advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face Su-Wei Hsieh and Chia Yi Tsao from Taiwan.

Pegula’s Olympic journey ended with her second-round singles loss on Monday, while Gauff's remaining chance for a medal now rests on her performance in the mixed doubles.

Coco Gauff suffered another bitter blow in the women's doubles. GETTY IMAGES
Coco Gauff suffered another bitter blow in the women's doubles. GETTY IMAGES

Women's doubles

In the women's doubles Round of 16, Gabriela Dabrowski and Leylah Fernandez from Canada suffered defeat to Russian duo Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider 4-6, 0-6 while Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara of Japan lost 5-7, 4-6 to Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova from the Czech Republic.

In the later games, Katie Boulter and Heather Watson of Team GB beat Brazilian duo Beatriz Haddad Maia and Luisa Stefani 6-6, 6-4.

The last women's doubles match of the day finished with Ukraine's twin sisters Lyudmyla and Nadiia Kichenok coming from a set down to beat Danielle Collins and Desirae Krawczyk of the United States 3-6, 6-4, 10-7.