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Djokovic dismisses Struff in Tokyo to keep Golden Slam hopes alive

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Novak Djokovic defeated Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets to reach the third round at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. 

 Novak Djokovic cruised through Round 2 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics tennis competition with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Jan-Lennard Struff on Monday 26 July at the Ariake Tennis Park.

The World No.1 took an hour and 14 minutes to end it on Centre Court in a clinical performance, mirroring his opening 6-2, 6-2, win over Bolivian hitter Hugo Dellien.

Despite a decent start from current world number 48 Struff, who served well and stayed with his Serbian opponent early in the first set, Djokovic took care of business quickly and efficiently.

The two matched service game for service game to 4-4 in Set 1 but as soon as the opportunity arose Djokovic pounced.

Leading 5-4 on Struff’s serve he turned on the tap to win four straight points and break to love, claiming the first set 6-4. 

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The break came much earlier in the second set, at 30-15 in game two Djokovic took the point and pumped his fist, letting out a roar with the intensity rising. 

There was another roar from the Serb when a lovely cross-court backhand made it three games to one in the second set as Djokovic turned the screw.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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