Blow to Djokovic – AS.com

The route to the Golden Slam of Novak Djokovic, his intention to win the Olympic gold and the Big Four in the same year, he ran into a gigantic Alexander Zverev at the Ariake Tennis Center. The German knocked out the Serbian: 1-6, 6-3 and 6-1 in 2h: 05. A tremendous blow that leaves the Games without another of those milestones that should enter the history books.

Zverev, putting his hands to his face, unable to contain his excitement, crying on the court, he felt he had crossed the rubicon as Djokovic carried his bag into the locker room after congratulating him. He had just knocked down the man who has won Australia, Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year. To number one. The cannibal who came for the gold that he does not have (it was bronze in Beijing 2008) and who also wanted to join the US Open title, from August 30 and where Rafa Nadal will already be. Steffi Graf will continue as the only tennis player (1988) to achieve it in the same course.

Everything seemed destined for the glory of Djokovic. With 6-1, 4-3 and serve was walking towards a final in which Karen Khachanov was already, who defeated Pablo Carreño by a double 6-3. But then Zverev (24 years and 5th in the world) grew up leaving the Serb in shock. In destroyer mode, with 43 winners (only seven aces) and 15 unforced errors, he was able to overcome the game.

Zverev ended a 22-win streak of the champion of 20 majors, that at 34 he will have to wait for Paris 2024 to achieve a gold medal that Nadal does have. In three years, tennis will be played at Roland Garros … With his victory, in addition, Zverev referred Djokovic to the route of Pablo Carreño, that bronze will have to be played against a number one wounded in his pride.

THE SERBIAN, ALSO DEFEATED IN THE MIXED DOUBLES

Djokovic, the standard bearer of Serbian sports, enlisted in the mixed doubles to add another gold for his country. But the duo he formed with Nina Stojanic (95th in the WTA) was shipwrecked late at night against the Russian couple Vesnina-Karatsev 7-6 (4), 7-5. The final will be totally Russian, as Pavlyuchenkova-Rublev also got in and the Serbs will meet Australians Barty-Peers for bronze. “I hope to take advantage of at least the two opportunities,” said the number one afterwards, who admitted that against Zverev he could weigh “the pressure of playing for your country in the Games.”

The women's final will be between Belinda Bencic and the Czech Marketa Vondrusova (around 12:00). The Swiss is also in the doubles final alongside Viktoria Golobic against the Czechs Krejcikova-Siniakova. The men's gold went to Mektic-Pavic against other Croats, Cilic-Dodig.