Djokovic intensifies the hunt for first Games gold

Novak Djokovic moved closer to an unfulfilled career dream, with his 7-5, 6-3 Wednesday win over Dominik Koepfer to book the quarter-finals of the Pari Olympic event.

The world No. 2 Serb with the record 24-Grand Slam titles with only a bronze medal from 2008 to show at the Games, wil try to keep his hot streak alive in the round of eight as he takes on Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The 37-year-old Serb leads that series 11-2 and has won their last 10 meetings.

Djokovic put out longtime rival Rafael Nadal in the Paris second round as the pair played for the 60th time.

His defeat of Germany’s Koepfer took just under an hour and three-quarters in the French Open Chatrier showcourt.

“We play Roland Garros every year in this stadium but the crowd, the atmosphere, the colours, everything is different. In a good way,” Djokovic said.

“The Roland Garros crowd is very knowledgeable and passionate about tennis but the Olympic crowd is something different.

“People from all over the world come to support their athletes and I think there are so many different nations and nationalities and it is beautiful to see.”

Djokovic came from a break down in the opening set against Koepfer to win the opening set and ran through the second onto victory in a steamy summer heatwave.

“I’m soaking wet, it’s a very humid day, as it was yesterday,” the winner said.

“I just hope it rains so it cools down the temperature a bit, the air. But it was the same for me and my opponent so you have to make the best out of it.”