Tennis: Zverev Stuns Djokovic, Derails Serbian’s Golden Slam Dreams
Novak Djokovic hopes of becoming the first man to complete the Golden Slam were derailed on Friday after he was eliminated from the semi-finals of the singles tennis event at the Tokyo Olympics by Germany’s Alexander Zverev on Friday.
The Serbian’s 1-6 6-3 6-1 defeat also ended his dream of winning an Olympic singles gold medal, the only major honour missing from his long list of accolades.
The world number one arrived in Tokyo looking to claim the Golden Slam — winning all four majors and Olympic gold in the same year — after triumphing at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 2021.
Djokovic, who won singles bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games, appeared to be on course for an easy victory on Friday when he claimed the opening set and then went up a break midway through the second.
But world number five Zverev managed to find another gear, breaking back and reeling off eight games in a row to take the set and take a commanding lead in the decider.
Djokovic had a chance to stop Zverev’s irresistible momentum early in the third set, holding four break points in a second game that lasted almost 10 minutes. But Zverev survived that challenge, moved ahead 4-0, and grew in confidence with every step closer to the finish line.
Serving to stay in the match at 1-5, a rattled Djokovic committed three consecutive errors to hand Zverev a bundle of match points, of which he converted his second. Zverev sealed the victory with a winner to become the first German man to make an Olympic tennis final since Tommy Haas won silver at the Sydney Games in 2000.
The German broke down in tears after realising what he had achieved, defeating rival Djokovic. Zverev had not beaten Djokovic in almost three years, having lost their past five meetings.
Zverev produced the upset of season 2021 with a three-set victory over Novak Djokovic in their Olympic men’s singles semifinal. Djokovic had not lost a match since the Rome final in May, and took a 22-match winning streak into this semifinal clash.
When Zverev hit the backhand winner down the line, Djokovic walked to the net where he was embraced by Zverev as the pair exchanged some words.
Djokovic has now appeared in three Olympic singles semifinals without ever advancing to the gold medal match. Steffi Graf in 1988 remains the only tennis player to achieve the Golden Slam.
Zverev’s opponent in the gold-medal match will be Karen Khachanov. The Russian beat Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain 6-3, 6-3.
Djokovic will play Carreno Busta for bronze at the tokyo Olympics.
Chidi Nwoke/Reuters.
