Men’s Olympic Tennis Second Round – Novak Djokovic vs Jan-Lennard Struff Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Novak Djokovic vs Jan-Lennard Struff taking place? Novak Djokovic vs Jan-Lennard Struff will take place on Monday 26th July, 2021 at (not before) 07:30 (UK)
Where is Novak Djokovic vs Jan-Lennard Struff taking place? Novak Djokovic vs Jan-Lennard Struff will take place at Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo
What surface is Novak Djokovic vs Jan-Lennard Struff played on? Novak Djokovic vs Jan-Lennard Struff will be played on hard courts
Where can I get tickets for Novak Djokovic vs Jan-Lennard Struff? There are no tickets for Novak Djokovic vs Jan-Lennard Struff as Olympic Tennis will take place without spectators.
What TV channel is Novak Djokovic vs Jan-Lennard Struff on in the UK? Olympic coverage is shared between BBC and Eurosport so it is worth checking their schedules for Novak Djokovic vs Jan-Lennard Struff
Where can I stream Novak Djokovic vs Jan-Lennard Struff in the UK? If Novak Djokovic vs Jan-Lennard Struff is televised on BBC then it can be streamed live on the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app. If Novak Djokovic vs Jan-Lennard Struff is televised on Eurosport then subscribers can stream the match live on Eurosport Player
THE PREDICTION
Novak Djokovic conceded just four games in a predictably assured straight-sets win over Hugo Dellien in the first round. The world number one is chasing the so-called ‘Golden Slam’ of all four Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal which no male player has ever achieved before and with this week and the US Open left to win that looks a distinct possibility. The 34-year-old has lost to eventual finalists in each of his three previous Olympic Games with defeats to 2008 champion Rafael Nadal, 2012 champion Andy Murray and 2016 silver medallist Juan Martin del Potro but Tokyo 2020 looks to be by far his best opportunity with a depleted field. World number 48 Jan-Lennard Struff will be hoping to cause one of the upsets of the season here and the German has already won some high profile scalps in 2021. Struff beat Milos Raonic at the ATP Cup at the start of the year and both Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev this summer on clay and grass, respectively.
31-year-old Struff has previously troubled Djokovic on occasion, taking a set off the Serb at the Australian Open in 2020 in one of three meetings that year, but the world number one leads their head-to-head record 5-0. Despite the German’s exploits this year, Djokovic’s current form simply does not legislate for a defeat to anybody but the current top five and even that would be a shock. He will be tested and pushed around at times by a great player in Struff but this should still fall in straight sets to Djokovic.
