Novak Djokovic made light work on Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in the tennis men’s singles third round to ease into the last 16 at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, on Monday. He produced 14 aces and made just four unenforced errors to remain on course for a Golden Grand Slam.

Djokovic, the world number one, is looking to become the first man to win all four majors and the Olympics in the same season, a feat achieved by Steffi Graf in 1988.

Djokovic has captured titles at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon this year, and is the clear favourite for gold in Japan.

The Serb, an Olympic bronze medallist in 2008, will play Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina for a place in the quarter-finals.

Talking about the Graf record that he is looking to emulate, Djokovic said: “I have utmost respect and admiration for Steffi and everything she has achieved in her career and the mark that she left in our sport,” Djokovic said.

“When I was thinking about the ultimate achievement that she had, which was the four Slams and Olympic gold medal in one year, I did not think that it would be, I don’t want to say achievable, but that there’s a slim chance that someone could make it again, male or female.”

“Right now it seems more and more realistic for me. Of course that’s one of the goals and dreams, but it’s hard to compare sports and circumstances back in the days that she played and now,” said Djokovic.

“But still, the champion’s mentality she (Graf) possesses is definitely something that inspires me so hopefully I’ll be able to use that in my upcoming tasks.”

In women’s singles tie, Japanese star Naomi Osaka raced into the third round after powering past Switzerland’s 49th-ranked Viktorija Golubic 6-3, 6-2 in just over an hour.

She was playing her second match in as many days after lighting the Olympic cauldron on Friday.

“Honestly, I feel like I was a bit more nervous before the match,” said Osaka.

“I felt a lot of butterflies, but I think as I started playing and feeling more comfortable, I knew that no matter what it would be a great match.”

The second seed is the highest-ranked player left in the women’s draw after the first-round exit of world number one and Wimbledon champion Ashleigh Barty.

Third-seed Aryna Sabalenka was beaten by Donna Vekic in the second round.