Tennis-Bencic, Vondrousova challenges gold when Djokovic is half-relieved

TOKYO, July 29 (Reuters) – Belinda Bencic may become the first woman to win one tennis gold for Switzerland after booking a seat to the Olympic final with a hard win 7-6 (2) 4-6 6-3. Over Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan on Thursday.

In Saturday’s front race, he will be faced by Czech Marketa Vondrousova, who knocked out Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in a 6-3 6-1 unilateral race.

On the men’s side, 20-time Grand Champion Novak Djokovic eased the last four with a commanding performance against Japanese Kei Nishikor, but world number one Daniil Medvedev bowed to a 6-2 7-6 (5) loss to Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta. .

Bencic was in tears as he ended a nervous battle against Rybakina, who finished in 20th place and wasted several leads during a tough semi-final at the top of the midfield.

The victory secures a tennis medal for Switzerland for the fourth Olympics in a row, while Bencic has the chance to be the first player to win a doubles gold for the country after Marc Rosset won the men’s Olympic final in 1992.

“I mean, my feelings are too high right now. I have a medal, which is the biggest thing ever,” the 24-year-old told reporters.

“Being here as an athlete, at the Olympics is amazing and also a medal, it’s something I dreamed of and I don’t think it will become a reality.”

The Swiss also became the Fifth Final in both singles and doubles tournaments on Thursday after tennis returned to the 1988 Olympics, followed by American sisters Venus (2000) and Serena Williams (2012), Chilean Nicolas Massu (2004) and British Andy Murray (2012).

Bencic and partner Viktorija Golubic won a pair of Brazilian Laura Pigoss and Luisa Stefan in the 7-5 6-3 women’s singles semi-finals.

IMPORTANT DJOKOVIC

The matches began on Thursday at 3pm local time as the organizers agreed to delay the competition based on player complaints about the hot and humid conditions at Ariake Tennis Park. Read more

Djokovic, who finished at his best, was in a dominant 6-2 6-0 win over Nishikor when he remained on the course as the first player to win all four Grand Slams and Olympic gold in the same year after Steffi Graf in 1988.

“Matches aren’t easier, but my tennis is getting better and better,” said the Serb, whose victory over Nishikor put an end to local hopes for an exclusive medal.

“I’ve done so many times in my career. I know I’m the kind of player that the further the tournament progresses, the better I feel on the field, and that’s how it is here.

“The best performance of the tournament tonight against a good opponent.”

Djokovic will next play German Alexander Zverev – who defeated Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-4 6-1 – to get a place in Sunday’s final.

In his first meeting, Karen Khachanov promoted Frenchman Ugo Humbert in a 7-6 (4) 4-6 6-3 close match to reserve a place in the men’s semi-finals against Carreno Busta.

Carreno Busta’s victory closed all Russian semi-finals, and the Spaniard said his match against Medvedev was one of the best of his career.

“Daniil is a really good player, he’s very solid from the start,” said world number 11. “I think I came back very well all the time. It’s very important when you’re playing against players like that.”

In the men’s singles, Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig secured the Olympic medal for Croatia by beating New Zealanders Marcus Daniell and Michael Venus from 6-2 to 6-2 in the final.

Rapporteur: Rozanna Latiff; Edited by Clare Fallon and Toby Davis

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