Novak Djokovic might be heard saying “sorry” to Matthew Ebden after he routed the Australian, 6-0, 6-1, within the first spherical of the 2024 Paris Olympics singles draw on Saturday.
The Serb knew that Ebden — a 36-year-old doubles participant who hadn’t competed in a major draw singles match since June 2022 — didn’t belong on the courtroom with him.
To place issues in perspective, the Aussie hadn’t even cracked the ATP singles rating since he was ranked No. 970 in Might 2023, and had not practiced for a singles match in about two years till he arrived in Paris for the Video games.
Ebden was picked because the last-second opponent for Djokovic after Denmark’s Holger Rune pulled out with a wrist harm. In keeping with IOC guidelines, a doubles specialist can fill in for the singles draw within the occasion of an harm. As such, different eligible singles gamers not within the draw couldn’t take Rune’s place.
The odd rule left Djokovic perplexed after the sport.
“I actually do not perceive the principles. They’re actually not logical for me,” stated the 24-time main winner, by way of the Associated Press. “I don’t suppose it is a good picture for the game, to be sincere. There have been loads of singles gamers which have loads of time, that have been alternates, that would have been referred to as to return. This half I do not get.”
World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz — who defeated Lebanon’s Hady Habib within the first spherical — additionally referred to as for the IOC to revisit the principles of the singles draw.
“It is a troublesome rule, I suppose. Actually, there are loads of gamers who should be right here and enjoying right here within the Olympic Video games. I believe it must be completely different, as a result of the following singles participant (within the rankings) deserves to be right here if somebody withdraws from the event,” Alcaraz stated.
Apart from Ebden, two different doubles specialists have additionally been requested to take part within the Paris Olympics singles draw as last-second harm replacements.
Whereas Djokovic will renew his longtime rivalry with Rafael Nadal within the second spherical on Tuesday, Alcaraz will face Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor. Djokovic is making an attempt to win his first Olympic medal after he withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Video games as a consequence of a shoulder harm.
