The «Djoker» actually has nerves of steel and stays cool even in the most delicate situations. And after winning matches, he likes to shout everything out. The world number 1, Novak Djokovic, has almost got used to winning. The moments of defeat are all the rarer. The Olympic Games in Tokyo show that the Serbs have to experience them too. Djokovic came with the aim of winning gold and possibly even winning the “Golden Slam” at the end of the season: all four Grand Slam titles and the Olympic gold medal.
In the end, Djokovic gambled away three medals within two days. On Friday first the semi-final defeat against Alexander Zverev and then on Saturday the lost game for bronze against Pablo Carreño Busta. In the second match in particular, the 34-year-old didn’t want to achieve a lot. At the beginning of the fourth and ultimately decisive set, Djokovic showed nerves and unceremoniously threw his racket in a high arc onto the stands.
After another lost rally, he finally freaked out and smashed the racket on the post of the net. The game was over – and Djokovic goes home without an Olympic medal. Because of a shoulder injury, he gave forfait for the subsequent bronze match in mixed doubles with Nina Stojanovic.
