Posted on Jul 30, 2021
Novak Djokovic's 'Golden Slam' Dreams Are Crushed With Olympic Semifinal Elimination
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https://www.npr.org/sections/tokyo-olympics-live-updates/2021/07/30/ [login to see] /novak-djokovics-golden-slam-dreams-are-crushed-with-olympic-semifinal-eliminatio
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic was upset in the men's Olympic tennis semifinal by Germany's Alexander Zverev.
The loss on Friday means world number one ranked Djokovic won't be able to complete an elusive Golden Slam — winning all four Grand Slam tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in a single year. No man has ever done it, but Djokovic put himself in position by winning the first three Grand Slams this year.
In the early stages of the Olympic tournament, his chances still looked good. Djokovic cruised through the first four rounds without losing a set - against the 4th seeded Zverev, it seemed like that would continue after he won the first set 6-1. A frustrated Zverev smashed his racket on the court several times and pounded a ball into the stands.
"I was playing his game. I was rallying with him a lot, so I needed to change it up," Zverev said after the match. "I started playing much more aggressive, I started to swing through the ball a little bit more, and yeah, I tried to dominate that way."
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic was upset in the men's Olympic tennis semifinal by Germany's Alexander Zverev.
The loss on Friday means world number one ranked Djokovic won't be able to complete an elusive Golden Slam — winning all four Grand Slam tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in a single year. No man has ever done it, but Djokovic put himself in position by winning the first three Grand Slams this year.
In the early stages of the Olympic tournament, his chances still looked good. Djokovic cruised through the first four rounds without losing a set - against the 4th seeded Zverev, it seemed like that would continue after he won the first set 6-1. A frustrated Zverev smashed his racket on the court several times and pounded a ball into the stands.
"I was playing his game. I was rallying with him a lot, so I needed to change it up," Zverev said after the match. "I started playing much more aggressive, I started to swing through the ball a little bit more, and yeah, I tried to dominate that way."
Novak Djokovic's 'Golden Slam' Dreams Are Crushed With Olympic Semifinal Elimination
Posted from npr.org
Serbia
Tennis
Olympics
Tokyo
Posted >1 y ago
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To me this is the part of the Olympics I love so much, sometimes the unlikely get the chance to knock off the Giant in the games. Same thing with Osaka, knocked out by an unlikely competitor.
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This Serbian ace tennis professional lost out on his Grand Slam dream. He should have read his opponent better going into the second set. There is always a next time, as consolation.
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