‘Stubborn’ Novak Djokovic learned from Olympic mistake, says friend and former world No 12
“Stubborn” Novak Djokovic has learned from mistakes he made at the Tokyo Olympic Games three years ago, according to close friend and Serbia’s Olympic captain Viktor Troicki.
Djokovic suffered heartbreak in Tokyo, beaten from a set up in the semi-final by Alexander Zverev, before losing in the bronze medal match to Pablo Carreno Busta.
Three years on, the Serbian is the top seed in the men’s singles draw at Paris 2024 and is yet to drop a set in his hunt for a first gold medal, with eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas awaiting him in the quarter-finals.
Unlike in previous Olympic campaigns, the 37-year-old is only playing singles, having not considered competing in any other discipline.
That differs drastically from Tokyo, where he and Nina Stojanovic progressed to the last four of the mixed doubles, before losing their semi-final – and withdrawing from the bronze medal.
That campaign affected Djokovic’s physical ability in the singles according to Troicki, and the former world No 12 revealed in an interview with Clay that his compatriot had learned from that experience.
Troicki said: “He made a mistake playing mixed doubles. I think he also lost energy playing mixed doubles for no reason.
“It was extremely hot there and here he’s only focused on the singles title and he’s doing everything to accomplish it.
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“That’s one of the many mistakes he learned from. He’s like this. He’s stubborn sometimes.
“Even if everyone tells him you shouldn’t play, if he thinks he should play, he will do it. And will try to prove everyone wrong. And he was close. He was close.”
Having won the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon in the build-up to Tokyo, Djokovic was an overwhelming favourite for gold – with constant talk on whether he could complete the calendar ‘Golden Slam.’
As well as the heat and physical exertion, Troicki believes the pressure may have got to Djokovic in the semi-finals – but that he is competing in a more relaxed environment now.
“It was a huge experience for him, you know, 6-1, 2-1 with the break, against Zverev in the semi-finals,” added Troicki.
“Everything going well, everything. But he’s also a human. Zverev started playing better. He started feeling a little bit of pressure and at the end it cost him the match.
“He won so many big titles, but this was the first time he felt the goal was there, so close. I think here in Paris he’s more relaxed, more focused on the things he needs to do.
“Here he has family with him, kids are with him. So I think he feels better here mentally and that is the most important thing for him at this moment.”
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