Tokyo 2020 Summer Games stadium announcer Andy Taylor recaps Novak Djokovic’s quick Quarterfinal victory over Japan’s Kei Nishikori. In Japan, the live narration includes two voices: Japanese announcer DJ Ketchup and English announcer Andy Taylor. Together, they cover the presentation on Center Court, while additional Japanese and English speaking announcers cover Courts 1 and 2 at Ariake Tennis Park.
Now a 4-time Olympian and 2008 Bronze Medalist, Djokovic pursues the Calendar Golden Slam
Competing in his fourth Summer Games, Novak’s four convincing victories this week earned him a spot in the Olympic medal rounds for a third time. In 2008, he captured Bronze. Four years later, he fell to Juan Martin Del Potro in the Bronze Medal Match. Then, five years ago in Rio, Del Potro defeated Djokovic in the opening round.
A win tomorrow ensures Gold or Silver.
Meanwhile, a loss means Bronze or nothing – a match with which Djokovic is all too familiar.
In pursuit of the sport’s first Calendar Golden Slam since 1988, the World #1 has yet to drop a set this week. (Steffi Graf remains the only player in tennis history to win all four Majors and Olympic Gold in the same season). Clearly Novak is all business, and could actually earn two medals in Tokyo. Later tonight, he and Nina Stojanovic continue their Mixed Doubles campaign versus Germans Laura Siegemund and Kevin Krawietz.
19th meeting. Sixteenth successive victory for Djokovic.
Since his stunning upset of Djokovic in the 2014 US Open Semifinals, Kei Nishikori simply hasn’t found a way to rekindle the magic of that electric (and overwhelmingly hot) Summer in New York. Their most enticing clash came five years ago in Rome’s Semifinals, where Djokovic earned victory in a deciding set tiebreak.
[1] Novak Djokovic -01- (SRB) | Quarterfinal Announcer Introduction
This year, he has won all three Majors and comes into tonight’s Quarterfinal match on a 21-match win-streak. Now a 20-time Grand Slam Champion – he is one of only three men to earn the Career Grand Slam TWICE, and has held the World #1 ranking longer than any other man in tennis history. Competing in his 4th Olympic Games, he’s reached the Medal Round twice, and captured Olympic Bronze for his country at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. Representing Serbia – the number-one player in the world, Novak Djokovic.
- QF — W —Kei Nishikori -69- (JPN) | Score: 6-2, 6-0
- R3 — W — Alejandro Davidovich Fokina -34- (ESP) | Score: 6-3, 6-1 | RECAP
- R2 — W — Jan-Lennard Struff -48- (GER) | Score: 6-4, 6-3 | RECAP
- R1 — W — Hugo Dellien -139- (BOL) | Score: 6-2, 6-2 | RECAP
Kei Nishikori -69- (JPN) | Quarterfinal Announcer Introduction
At the 2014 US Open, he became the first Asian man in tennis history to reach a Grand Slam Final. Two years later at the Summer Games in Rio, he defeated Rafael Nadal to capture Olympic Bronze – earning Japan’s first Olympic Tennis medal in 96-years. With victories this week over World #7 Andrey Rublev, Marcos Giron and Ilya Ivashka – he is through to the Olympic Quarterfinals for the third time. Competing in his fourth Olympic Games, representing Japan – 2016 Bronze medalist, Kei Nishikori.
- QF — L — [1] Novak Djokovic -01- (SRB) | Score: 2-6, 0-6
- R3 — W — Ilya Ivashka -66- (BLR) | Score: 7-6(7), 6-0 | COURT-1
- R2 — W — Marcos Giron -65- (USA) | Score: 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-1 | RECAP
- R1 — W — [5] Andrey Rublev-07- (ROC) | Score: 6-3, 6-4 | COURT-1
SUMMER GAMES | Men’s Singles Medalists
[divider style=”solid” color=”#cccccc” opacity=”0.5″ icon=”arrow-down” icon_color=”#666666″ icon_size=”15″ placement=”down”]
Amid COVID concern, the Games go on
Postponed for a year due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games finally launched on Friday, 23 July 2021. After 18-months of lockdowns, desperately trying to contain COVID’s insidious spread, the world finally developed effective vaccines. Sadly, though, 4-million lost their lives, while over 193-million contracted the virus. And Tokyo’s case count was on the rise.
But thanks to science and nearly 2-years of experience, organizers understood that it was entirely possible to responsibly stage the Summer Games without creating a super-spreader event. No fans allowed. Tickets revoked. All international visitors barred from the country – unless competing or working.
From the athlete, to the volunteer, to the Japanese announcer and English announcer — everyone involved with the Games exercised the procedures and protocols painstakingly learned through 18-months of uncertainty and despair. Quarantines. Life in bubbles. Regular hand-hygiene. Masks. Limited long-term indoor exposure to others. And of course, social distancing. But above all else: Most of the Tokyo 2020 team was vaccinated.
Come hell or high water, the Summer Games would go on.
Naomi Osaka ignites the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Cauldron
On a more positive note, one of the most distinguished honors in all of sport is to light the Olympic cauldron. Any American over 40 remembers the emotional moment in 1996 when Muhammed Ali courageously climbed the steps to light the flame in Atlanta. His body ravaged by Parkinson’s disease. That singular moment creates indelible memories.
This year, the Japanese Olympic Committee secretly bestowed the honor to 23-year-old Naomi Osaka. Originally scheduled to play the first match on Center Court Saturday morning, it was unusual on Friday to hear that her match had been moved to Sunday. Nothing further was said.
Then, at the conclusion of a subdued, yet deeply respectful opening ceremony and parade of nations – it was Naomi Osaka who climbed the steps and torched the flame that brightly burned over the Games of the 32nd Olympiad. Obviously, it was a humbling honor not lost on the 4-time Grand Slam Champion, who was making her Olympic debut.
Well represented during the parade of nations, tennis players Petra Kvitova (CZE), Jelena Ostapenko (LAT), and Veronica Cepede Royg (PAR) all served as flag-bearers.
Tennis at the Summer Games
One of the premier sports featured during the Games’ initial revival, tennis still has a contentious history with the Summer Games. It fell off the radar after 1924, mainly due to conflicts between the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the IOC. The two major obstacles:
- Allowing professionals to compete in a global showcase for amature athletics.
- Scheduling. With the Summer Games so close to the conclusion of the Wimbledon Championships, the ILTF and the IOC were in direct competition for tournament participation by the sport’s top-athletes.
After a 60 year absence, tennis and the IOC worked out their differences, and the sport returned as an official event during the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul. Now under the guidance of the International Tennis Federation, professionals proudly represent their home nations.
