Tennis star Novak Djokovic has been ruled out of the Olympics in Tokyo without even a medal. One day after the semifinal defeat to Alexander Sverre, the world number one lost surprisingly 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 3-6 in the bronze medal match against Spaniard Pablo Carino Busta on Saturday. The bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics was his only victory at the Olympics.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner then dropped the bronze medal in the mixed doubles with Nina Stojanovic. Organizers announced that the reason for Djokovic’s cancellation was an injury to his left shoulder. The bronze went to Australian pair Ashley Party / John Pierce without a fight.
At the start of the third set, Djokovic was so annoyed against the world’s eleventh Carino Busta that he first threw a bat on the empty ground stand, shortly after hitting another bat on the net post.
Serp missed out on his first Olympic victory and a Golden Slam chance in the semifinals against Sverre. The Hamburg native won a thrilling 1: 6, 6: 3, 6: 1 and became the first German Olympic champion in the Russian singles on Sunday.
“I feel bad in every way now”
“This time I feel terrible in every way, but I can win at least one medal for my country and win,” Djokovic, 34, said after a surprise appearance to Sverre.
Djokovic has won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon this season. The best star could do even better at the Grand Slam title at the US Open in September. The last Australian Rod Laver to win four major tennis tournaments in a calendar year was in 1969. Djokovic will need Olympic gold for the Golden Slam.