JUST one unseeded clash came to blows during the first day of men’s Round of 32 action at the Tokyo Olympics, and just one seed fell in a fairly predictable day of tennis.

Three of the top four seeds reigned supreme, as world number one Novak Djokovic continued his run to a potential Golden Slam with a 6-4 6-3 victory over German Jan-Lennard Struff, hitting 14 aces throughout the 76-minute clash.

“It was challenging but I’m pleased to overcome the first hurdle,” Djokovic said. “I think I was solid on the court. I could always do better but for a first match I’m satisfied. “It was the hottest day so far. Humidity is brutal. It’s certainly hot but also humid, the hard courts absorb the heat and it stays trapped in there. There was not much wind, not much breeze.”

“I am full of confidence and motivated to represent Serbia in the best possible way,” Djokovic said. “I am yearning for a medal in Tokyo, hopefully gold, and then I’ll go to New York aiming to complete it all.”

Djokovic was joined on the winners list by second seed Daniil Medvedev, who outclassed Indian Sumit Nagal 6-2 6-1, and fourth seed Alexander Zverev, who downed Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan.

“I played well, and I felt quite good on court, but I know the matches and opponents get tougher from now,” Zverev said. “I’ve got to play the same way and maybe compete even better. “Some of the guys won’t let me play as well. That’s what the top guys do – they always find a way to disturb your rhythm a little bit. “But yeah, today I had a good rhythm.

“Maybe he was a bit nervous, came out and didn’t know what to expect too much. From the first point on I thought – and this is the most important for me – I need to focus on myself. I know that I have quite a big game, I know I can hit winners, I can overpower people, and when I’m doing that, things work out well for me. ““You’re not only playing for yourself, you’re playing for your whole country, for everybody that is watching in Germany, and the other athletes here.”

Three matchups went to three sets, with Spaniards Pablo Carreno Busta and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina tested throughout their individual clashes with Marin Cilic and John Millman both putting up a fight before going down to the respective sixth and 16th seeds. Nikoloz Basilashvili managed the upset of the day over 13th seeded Italian, Lorenzo Sonego, claiming a classy 6-4 3-6 6-4 victory. While both players were error-ridden throughout, Basilashvili controlled proceedings to pile on 22 winners against the in-form Italian.

Sonego’s compatriot Fabio Fognini was much more fortunate in his clash with Egor Gerasimov, claiming  the 6-4 7-6(4) victory, as German Dominik Koepfer joined Zverev in the third round after downing Australian Max Purcell in a speedy 6-3 6-0 victory.

OLYMPICS ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) defeated Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 6-4 6-3
[2] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) defeated Sumit Nagal (IND) 6-2 6-1
[4] Alexander Zverev (GER) defeated Daniel Elahi Galan (COL) 6-2 6-2
[6] Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) defeated Marin Cilic (CRO) 5-7 6-4 6-4
Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) defeated [13] Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) 6-4 3-6 6-4
[15] Fabio Fognini (ITA) defeated Egor Gerasimov (BLR) 6-4 7-6
[16] Alexandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) defeated John Millman (AUS) 6-4 6-7 6-3
Dominik Koepfer (GER) defeated Max Purcell (AUS) 6-3 6-0

Picture credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images