admin
TOKYO. — There will be no Golden Slam for Novak Djokovic.
The top-ranked Serb lost to Alexander Zverev of Germany 1-6, 3-6, 6-1 yesterday in the semi-finals of the tennis tournament at the Tokyo Olympics.
Djokovic was attempting to become the first man to win all four Grand Slam tournaments and Olympic gold in the same year. He won the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon this year and needed the Olympic and US Open titles to complete the collection.
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 in the other semi-final match yesterday.
Djokovic will play Busta for bronze.
Djokovic’s hadn’t lost since getting beaten by Rafael Nadal at the Italian Open final 2½ months ago.
On a humid and muggy evening at the Ariake Tennis Park, Djokovic committed a series of uncharacteristic errors after a strong start as the 6-foot-6 (1.98-metre) Zverev started to win free points with his big serve.
When Zverev hit a backhand winner down the line that Djokovic didn’t move for to close it out, Djokovic walked to the net where he was embraced by Zverev. Djokovic responded by resting his head on Zverev’s shoulder as the pair exchanged some words.
Djokovic seemed on his way to another easy win after taking the first set against Zverev 6-1 with the same ease he has displayed throughout the tournament.
With Djokovic up 3-2 in the second set, Zverev won the final four games for a 6-3 win, the first set Djokovic lost in Tokyo.
Zverev then took a commanding 4-0 lead in the third and deciding set, bringing his run to eighth straight games before it was snapped by Djokovic. But that would be Djokovics lone victory in the set. — Yahoo Sport
Online Reporter