01 August,2021 07:47 AM IST | Tokyo | AFP
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic smashes his racquet during his bronze medal match against Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. Pics/AFP, Getty Images
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic said he was "not sure" about his fitness for the US Open after pulling out of the Tokyo Olympics mixed doubles bronze medal match with a shoulder injury on Saturday.
The Serb, 34, could become the first man to complete a calendar Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969 when the US Open gets under way on August 30.
The withdrawal in Tokyo came after the 20-time major champion lost his cool on his way to a surprise 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3 defeat against Pablo Carreno Busta in the Olympics singles bronze-medal match.
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He admitted that his exertions in Japan have taken their toll but he still hopes to be fit enough to challenge at Flushing Meadows. "The consequences physically hopefully will not create a problem for me for the US Open, but that's something that I'm not sure about right now," said Djokovic.
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"But I'm not regretting for giving it all because at the end of the day, when you play for your country, that's necessary." The International Tennis Federation said Djokovic had withdrawn with a "left shoulder injury. Ashleigh Barty and John Peers receive a walkover against Djokovic and Nina Stojanovic and win the bronze medal for Australia," the ITF added.
"I just didn't deliver yesterday and today," said Djokovic, whose singles loss to Alexander Zverev ended his Golden Grand Slam bid. "The level of tennis dropped, also due to exhaustion, mentally and physically."
His next opportunity to win an Olympic title will come in Paris in three years' time, when he will be 37. "I know that I will bounce back. I will try to keep going for Paris Olympic Games and fight for my country to win medals," insisted Djokovic. "I'm sorry that I disappointed a lot of sports fans in my country."
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