What we learnt on day 5 of Paris 2024
1) There’s still Francophone interest at Paris 2024
Felix Auger-Aliassime chose a good time to overturn a 0-7 head-to-head against Daniil Medvedev, beating his higher-ranked opponent 63 76(5) on Court Simonne-Mathieu. The change of surface clearly worked in the Canadian’s favour – all seven of their previous meetings had been on hard court.
The win means that Auger-Aliassime is the first Canadian man or woman to reach the singles quarter-finals at an Olympic Tennis Event. The best performance to date for Canada in Olympic tennis is the doubles gold medal won by Sebastien Lareau and Daniel Nestor at Sydney 2000.
With no tennis players from France remaining in Paris 2024, Auger-Aliassime, from French-speaking Quebec, keeps Francophone interest alive for the home crowd.
2) The Olympics is giving Zheng wings
China’s Zheng Qinwen has spent more than six hours on court over the last two days, with yesterday’s victory over USA’s Emma Navarro lasting three hours 10 minutes, while she needed a further three hours four minutes to overcome Angelique Kerber in today’s mammoth effort on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The Chinese player, the first woman from her country through to the semi-finals since Li Na at Beijing 2008, revealed that her extraordinary feat of endurance is only possible because of what it means to her to be playing at the Olympic Games.
“Right now, I just got to push through whatever happens,” explained Zheng, who will play world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals on Thursday. “It’s the Olympic Games, so I know I got to fight until the end whatever happens. It's time to push, yeah.”
3) Djokovic’s son is providing post-match advice
After his third round victory against Germany’s Dominik Koepfer on Wednesday morning, Novak Djokovic spoke about his son Stefan being in Paris to watch him.
"It means a lot, it means a lot, means a lot. He's the biggest supporter, always.”
"He comes out and really always screams his lungs out, along with my wife, and of course, with my daughter when she's around, but he's into tennis. He knows the big names, he follows (the game) and he plays himself.”
However, things have changed slightly in recent months. “After Wimbledon finals normally, in the past, when I would lose big matches, he would come and ask me what happened and ask me questions. But this time, he just came and hugged me, and said, 'It's all right, you know. It's just a match. It'll pass. You'll have another chance.' I'm like, 'How old are you? You're nine years old and giving me this kind of advice'”.
"It's incredible,” he laughed.
That next chance for Djokovic comes against Stefanos Tsitsipas in Thursday’s quarter-finals, as the 24-time Grand Slam champions bids to keep his Olympic gold medal hopes alive.
4) The Dutch were carried to victory on a sea of orange
The Dutch supporters were out in full force on Court 7 for the mixed doubles quarter-final between Demi Schuurs and Wesley Koolhof against Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori on Wednesday afternoon. As well as one side of the stands being swathed in the luminous orange that is synonymous with Netherlands’ sporting teams, there were even Dutch fans lined up on the balcony on Court Philippe Chatrier trying to catch a glimpse of the match.
The Dutch, who clinched an exceptionally tight encounter, saved a match point en route to a 6-7(4) 6-3 [11-9] victory against their Italian opponents. Koolhof admitted afterwards that he thought the experience of competing against Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal on Tuesday night had played into his favour.
The atmosphere [against Alcaraz and Nadal] was amazing,” said Koolhof. “Obviously, 99% of the people there were supporting the other team, but the atmosphere was nice.
“We think today was 75% orange. So that's nice to feel the atmosphere of the crowd. I think it was a pretty intense and exciting mixed doubles to watch as well. So, it's very nice to play in front of so many Dutch people.”
5) The Aussies have their eyes on the prize
Australia’s John Peers, who alongside countryman Matthew Ebden is through to the semi-finals of the men’s doubles here in Paris, said that the Aussie duo is focussed on one goal and one goal only – winning gold.
“Matt and I spoke about it a couple of months ago when it came on the radar,” Peers said after his victory over Germany’s Dominik Koepfer and Jan-Lennard Struff in the quarter-finals. “That's what we came here to do. We're pushing forward. It's one step at a time, semis up next.”
Ebden and Peers – both of whom are doubles specialists – are not usually a team on the regular ATP tour, but the pair did join forces for a couple of events over the summer, reaching the semi-finals of a grass court tournament in Eastbourne and falling in the first round on clay in Hamburg earlier this month.
They will take on the winner of the men’s doubles quarter-final between USA’s Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul against Britain’s Dan Evans and Andy Murray.