Djokovic Criticizes Olympic Tennis Rules

Novak Djokovic has criticized Olympic tennis entry rules that allowed doubles player Matthew Ebden to replace injured singles players, calling the regulations illogical and detrimental to the sport's image. Djokovic defeated Ebden in the first round with a swift 6-0, 6-1 victory, but expressed his disbelief that a doubles specialist, who hadn't played a singles match since 2022, was allowed to compete in singles. He emphasized that many singles players were available and could have stepped in instead. Former player Andy Roddick echoed Djokovic's sentiments on social media, labeling the situation as ridiculous. Organizers cited logistics as the reason for the rule, which only allows players already in the event to replace those who withdraw after a specific date. Djokovic is advocating for a reevaluation of these rules by the International Tennis Federation and the International Olympic Committee.