Novak Djokovic wants to rethink his Olympic start. © APA / afp / AELTC / JOE TOTH
Jannik Sinner’s decision not to go to the Olympics has caused a lot of discussion recently, but the list of tennis stars who do not want to travel to Tokyo is getting longer and longer. Now even the best of all is threatened.
July 12, 2021
Novak Djokovic had just transformed his historic match ball at Wimbledon, when his path to the Golden Slam, which was previously only achieved by Steffi Graf, was mapped out on the Olympic website. The message of the first in tennis in the world ranking list is likely to be taken up all the more shockingly in Tokyo that he is considering the previously firmly planned start again. The currently outstanding Serb is only one of a number of stars who are brooding over the circumstances or who have already canceled.
Serena Williams is not flying to Japan any more than Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer is still thinking about it – all of them were already Olympic champions. Not so Djokovic, who, with 20 Grand Slam titles, is the record winner at the four most important tournaments together with Federer and Nadal. With a success at the US Open, Djokovic would be the first men’s tennis player since 1969 to win all Grand Slam tournaments in a calendar year. Steffi Graf was also an Olympic champion in 1988 and even managed the so-called Golden Slam. Djokovic could also do that.
“It just doesn’t feel right and never has”
Nick kyrgios
But the exclusion of the audience and further restrictions due to corona made him think again. “This is not great news. It was really disappointing when I heard that, “said the 34-year-old about the absence of fans an hour after his sixth Wimbledon title in front of 15,000 enthusiastic spectators on Center Court.
Nobody wants to go back to the sterile atmosphere in tennis.
“The thought of playing in front of empty stadiums just doesn’t feel right for me and never has,” said the injured Australian Nick Kyrgios when he canceled. The Austrian Dominic Thiem and the Romanian Simona Halep are also missing as further medal contenders due to injuries. ‘
Nadal, Thiem, Halep and Co.
At the beginning of July, shooting star Jannik Sinner also announced that he would not participate in Tokyo. He said he hadn’t played his best tennis recently and wanted to focus on his development now. “I need this time to work on my game,” said the South Tyrolean, whose decision nevertheless made waves.
As before the last US Open, Djokovic is also displeased that he does not have his team with him and, among other things, the stringing of his rackets is not allowed to travel with him. The fact that he may not be allowed to attend events in other sports also plays a role in the considerations of the 2008 Olympic gold medalist.
The pros who had come a long way at Wimbledon had only just been in a bubble for weeks and only commuted between the facility and their central hotel. Semi-finalist Denis Shapovalov has no desire or energy to be in the next one in a week and a half. It was a dream to represent Canada at the Olympics, emphasized the 22-year-old, but added: “Mentally I’m slowly finished. I’m exhausted, not just from the tournament, but from the whole situation. “
Author: fop / dpa
