Ash Barty handed Olympic medal after Novak Djokovic decides not to play

Ash Barty finally has a coveted Olympic medal after Novak Djokovic decided not to play in the mixed doubles.

Novak Djokovic and Ash Barty had a friendly chat as they warmed up for the Olympics in Tokyo last week. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic hurled his racquet into the empty stands and smashed another on a net post as he lost his cool on his way to defeat against Pablo Carreno Busta in the Olympics bronze medal match on Saturday.

The 20-time major champion, whose Golden Grand Slam hopes were dashed by Alexander Zverev on Friday, lost 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3 as Spain’s Carreno Busta won on his sixth match point.

The almost three-hour three-setter had unexpected benefits for Australians Ash Barty and John Peers, who were handed a bronze medal of their own when the world number one decided he couldn’t immediately back up for the mixed doubles because of a left shoulder ailment.

What a disappointing finish for Djokovic and definitely not the way Barty and Peers wanted to win an Olympic medal https://t.co/B6PlxF458P

— D'Arcy Maine (@darcymaine_espn) July 31, 2021

Chaos at the tennis here in Tokyo.

World number one Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the mixed doubles Bronze medal match against Australia’s Ash Barty and John Peers.

Novak is citing a shoulder injury.

Australia claims the bronze medal. @7olympics

— Ryan Daniels (@FootyRhino) July 31, 2021

It denied his partner Nina Stojanovic her chance at glory but gave Barty a coveted Olympic medal after she lost in her first singles match and also fell short in the doubles.

It’s Australia’s first tennis medal since Alicia Molik won a singles bronze in Athens in 2004.

“It’s what you dream of as a child being part of the Olympic Games but not just being here to make up the numbers,” Barty said.

“We came to win a medal for our country. It has been a long time since a tennis team has brought home a medal for the Australian public and our country. It is exciting for us. We’re rapt and we’re going to enjoy tonight, enjoy tomorrow and soak it in over the next 24 to 48 hours.”

“This was a tournament, an event we really earmarked at the start of the year wanting to do well,” Barty added. “To share this
moment with Johnny and both our families back home is incredible. I think we enjoy this one then reset and get ready for the American hardcourt season.”

John Peers and Ash Barty are Olympic medallists. (Photo by Sergei Bobylev\TASS via Getty Images)

Djokovic’s preparedness for the hard-court swing is now in focus after he lost two straight singles matches for the first time since defeats by Dominic Thiem and Roger Federer at the 2019 ATP Tour Finals.

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.

“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 match was a gripping encounter played in the suffocating Tokyo heat, with both men desperate to secure a medal.

Djokovic, who will bid to win the final leg of the calendar Grand Slam at the US Open, which starts next month, saved a match point in the second set tie-break to force a decider and then four more late in the third set.

But Spaniard Carreno Busta, who also knocked out second seed Daniil Medvedev earlier in the tournament, struck 32 winners in an excellent performance, with Djokovic managing just 18.

Novak Djokovic ran out of answers against Pablo Carreno Busta. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

The 30-year-old finally wrapped up victory in a lengthy final game when his illustrious opponent put a forehand into the net.

“I just didn’t deliver yesterday and today,” said Djokovic. “The level of tennis dropped, also due to exhaustion, mentally and physically.”

Djokovic brought back memories of his infamous default against Carreno Busta last year at the US Open, when he inadvertently struck a ball at a line judge.

He thew his racquet high into the empty stands as he saw a break point come and go in the opening game of the third set and continued to cut an angry figure, destroying another racquet after a miss at the net.

“It was an emotional outburst and it happens,” said Djokovic. “You’re tense on the court, in the heat of the battle.

“It’s not the first time and it’s not the last time probably. It’s not nice, of course, but it’s part of, I guess, who I am.

“I don’t like doing these things, I’m sorry for sending this kind of message, but we’re all human beings and sometimes it’s hard to control.”

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. But that’s sport, I gave it all, whatever I had left in the tank, which was not so much. I left it out on the court.”

– with AFP

Originally published as Ash Barty handed Olympic medal after Novak Djokovic decides not to play