Pablo Carreno Busta was banking on one sudden factor in his Tokyo Olympics bronze medal match because the Spaniard was questioning if the Serb can be mentally impacted after failing to land the gold medal.
All through the primary seven months of 2021, Djokovic was enjoying nice and he got here to Tokyo decided to get that one factor that was lacking in his resume. And when the event began, the Serb simply bought via his opening 4 matches and not using a dropped set.
Going through Alexander Zverev within the semifinal, Djokovic was dominating the German and he was comfortably up by a set and a break. That is when one of many largest collapses of Djokovic’s profession occurred and Zverev went on to win 1-6 6-3 6-1.
Even with the loss, Djokovic may have nonetheless left the event with a medal – however he did not come to the event for that. Mentally, it was evidently laborious for Djokovic to simply accept what occurred and that led to him not enjoying that nicely in opposition to Carreno Busta, who took benefit of it to win 6-4 6-7 (6) 6-3.
“I used to be very targeted from the beginning, realizing what I needed to do and realizing that possibly he was going to be extra affected than me by the semi‐closing defeat as a result of his aim was to win gold. He was going to the Olympics to win gold, which was the one factor left for him to do to finish his immense file,” Carreno Busta instructed Eurosport.
“I knew that mentally it was going to be laborious for him and it is true that he began the match as if he needed to go in a short time, as if he needed to say to himself: ‘Nicely, I am one of the best, I’ll win and that is it, I’ll eliminate this man shortly.'”
What Djokovic stated after dropping to Carreno Busta?
When planning for the 2021 season, Djokovic had the Olympics circled and he was doing every thing to be prepared for the occasion. However as a result of Djokovic was successful quite a bit, it additionally had a little bit of a destructive consequence as a result of it took him quite a bit to win the French Open and Wimbledon that 12 months.
And because the Tokyo Olympics have been beginning simply two weeks after his 2021 Wimbledon win, Djokovic needed to shortly go from grass to laborious courts. Additionally, many already declaring the Serb the winner of the Olympics did not assist both.
Nonetheless, Djokovic regarded fairly nicely in Tokyo as he simply made the semifinal in singles and he reached the identical stage with Nina Stojanovic within the blended doubles occasion. However then, every thing collapsed.
After falling quick within the singles bronze medal match and in addition withdrawing from the blended doubles bronze medal match, Djokovic admitted he was exhausted in each manner doable however added that he did not remorse coming to the Olympics.
“I do have a remorse for not successful a medal for my nation. Alternatives missed each in doubles and singles. I didn’t ship yesterday and as we speak, the extent of tennis dropped, additionally because of exhaustion, mentally and bodily,” Djokovic stated after the loss.
“However I don’t remorse coming to the Olympics in any respect. I consider there isn’t a coincidence in life, every thing occurs for a cause, and I had some heartbreaking losses at Olympic Video games and a few massive tournaments in my profession, and I do know that these losses have normally made me stronger, in each facet.
“I do know that I’ll bounce again. I’ll attempt to hold going for Paris Olympic Video games, I’ll struggle for my nation to win medals and I’m sorry that I disenchanted lots of sports activities followers in my nation, however that’s sport.
“I gave all of it, no matter I had left within the tank, which was not a lot. I felt it out on the court docket. The implications bodily hopefully is not going to create an issue for me for US Open. That’s one thing that I’m undecided about proper now. However I’m not regretting giving all of it as a result of, if you play on your nation, that’s essential.”
Djokovic will attempt once more on the Paris Olympics
After surgically repairing his torn knee meniscus, Djokovic arrived at Wimbledon on Monday and he’ll determine whether or not or to not play after a few days of apply.
Whereas Djokovic not enjoying Wimbledon is a risk, his Olympic participation is now very seemingly because the Summer season Video games are beginning on July twenty sixth.
Earlier this 12 months, Djokovic hinted he could play when the time comes for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. However that may be a lengthy shot and Paris will seemingly be Djokovic’s closing likelihood at an Olympic gold.
A minimum of for now, the principle factor for Djokovic is to keep away from any harm or bodily setbacks and are available to the Olympics absolutely wholesome.