SM
Man United vs. Bodo/Glimt: 16 hrs 1 min
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Tokyo 2020: Zverev ends Novak Djokovic's Golden Slam hopes

:Headline: Tokyo 2020: Zverev ends Novak Djokovic's Golden Slam hopes:
Novak Djokovic appeared to struggle with the humidity in a 1-6 6-3 6-1 loss to German Alexander Zverev.
Sports Mole

Novak Djokovic’s dreams of a Golden Slam are over after a shock defeat by Alexander Zverev in the Olympic semi-finals.

The world number one was looking to become the first man in history to win all four grand slam titles and Olympic singles gold in the same year but Zverev fought back brilliantly after losing the first set to win 1-6 6-3 6-1.

It is the third time Djokovic has lost in the semi-finals at the Olympics, with his only medal so far a bronze in Beijing in 2008.

He still has a chance of gold here in the mixed doubles with Nina Stojanovic, while he will face Pablo Carreno Busta on Sunday for singles bronze.

Zverev will take on Karen Khachanov of the Russian Olympic Committee for the gold medal, and he was in tears on the court afterwards.

The two shared a warm embrace at the net, and Zverev said: “I told him that he’s the greatest of all time, and he will be.

“I know that he was chasing history, is chasing the Golden Slam and was chasing the Olympics, but in these kind of moments me and Novak are very close.

Djokovic does not enjoy playing in humid conditions (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I feel sorry for Novak, but he’s won 20 grand slams, 550 Masters series or whatever, you can’t have everything.

“It’s an amazing feeling knowing that you’re going to bring the medal back to your house, back home to Germany. It seemed it was impossible to beat him at this event, so I’m very happy right now. But yet there’s still one match to go.”

Djokovic had breezed through to the last eight, losing just two games against Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals, but Zverev has also been playing well and this always looked like the biggest hurdle.

Djokovic’s other big opponent was the humidity, with which he has never coped well. He persuaded organisers to shift the start of play back from 11am to 3pm to avoid the worst of the heat but conditions were still extremely difficult despite the match not beginning until nearly 5pm.

Djokovic, who was on a 23-match winning streak taking in French Open and Wimbledon titles, looked set for another easy victory when he raced through the opening set and broke Zverev for 3-2 in the second.

But from there the match turned on its head, the powerful German beginning to achieve the seemingly impossible of hitting through his opponent as he won a remarkable eight games in a row.

Djokovic finally stopped the rot to hold for 1-4 in the decider but a lacklustre final game showed he knew the match was up.

Khachanov earlier continued his fine form after reaching the quarter-finals of Wimbledon with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Carreno Busta.

body check tags ::

amp_article__457437 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-07-30 11:37:19:
html db last update - 2021-07-30 11:37:19 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Novak Djokovic

Click here for more stories about Serbia

Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Novak Djokovic Alexander Zverev Pablo Carreno Busta Karen Khachanov Kei Nishikori Tennis
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Disaster for the holders: Slick Liverpool comfortably beat Real Madrid at Anfield
January reunion? Emery coy over potential Luiz return to Villa
Amorim's 'serious' target: Man United handed major boost in Kvaratskhelia pursuit?

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Disaster for the holders: Slick Liverpool comfortably beat Real Madrid at Anfield

1

DF

Wednesday's Champions League predictions including Liverpool vs. Real Madrid

2

WC

Preview: Al-Nassr vs. Damac - prediction, team news, lineups

3

PA

Ruud van Nistelrooy set to become new Leicester City manager and replace Cooper

4

RV

Liverpool suffer double injury blow during their win against Real Madrid

5

LS

'Another difference-maker' - Barca remain determined to sign £58m-rated superstar

6

'D

Team News: Spurs vs. Roma injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

7

TN

Preview: Sheff Utd vs. Sunderland - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PS

Amorim's 'serious' target: Man United handed major boost in Kvaratskhelia pursuit?

9

A'

Sacked after 18 games: Championship club announce manager exit

10

SA


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .