Tokyo Olympics: Novak Djokovic in doubt for US Open after withdrawing from Olympics

Novak Djokovic’s dummy spit has been the talk of Tokyo, but the fallout might not be known for months. Has his aura of invincibility finally waned?

Novak Djokovic has cast doubt on his participation in the US Open after losing his Olympic singles bronze medal match against Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6, 7-6, 3-6.

Djokovic subsequently withdrew from his mixed doubles bronze medal match, citing a shoulder injury, and said he was “not sure” whether the issue would impede his bid to complete the final leg of the calendar grand slam in a month’s time.

“Today (my) level of tennis dropped … due to exhaustion mentally and physically,” the Serbian, who has played nine matches in eight days in the humid Tokyo conditions, said.

“The consequences physically hopefully will not create a problem for me for the US Open, but that’s something I’m not sure about right now.”

Djokovic later told the Serbian journalist Sasa Ozmo: “My body completely failed, I was playing under medication and pain and abnormal exhaustion.”

It has been an extraordinary turnaround for Djokovic, who entered this tournament as the seemingly invincible world No 1, on a run of 21 straight victories in grand-slam play, and had looked serene in progressing to the semi-finals of both the singles and mixed doubles competitions.

He leaves with his aura significantly dented after losing three matches within 24 hours — having lost only four in the entire year prior.

It was one thing going down in three sets to an opponent playing inspired tennis in the world No 5 Alexander Zverev.

It was altogether more bracing to see Djokovic defeated in the contest for bronze by Spain’s Carreno Busta, ranked 11th.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic could withdraw from the US Open.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic smashes his racket.

Djokovic, to his credit, was exceptionally gracious in defeat, waiting patiently at the net to congratulate Carreno Busta warmly.

During the match itself, however, his composure frayed: he hurled one racket into the empty stands, smashed another against the net-post, and at one stage roared into the sky in frustration.

Djokovic, whose only Olympic medal remains the singles bronze he won in Beijing in 2008, fought hard but was unable to recover a final-set break against Carreno Busta, despite saving four match points on the Spaniard’s save in a pulsating final game.

“I gave it all, whatever I had left in the tank, which was not much,” Djokovic said. “I do have a regret for not winning a medal for my country … opportunities missed, both in mixed doubles and singles. But I don’t regret giving it all, because when you play for your country, that’s necessary.”

Novak Djokovic is frustrated during the bronze medal match.

Pablo Carreno Busta in disbelief after his victory over Novak Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic wasn’t happy. Picture: AFP

AUSSIE BRONZE AFTER DJOKER BAILS ON MIXED DOUBLES

Australian tennis players Ash Barty and John Peers have won the mixed doubles bronze medal after Novak Djokovic withdrew from their playoff.

Djokovic made his decision after losing a marathon singles bronze playoff to Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.

It was a strange end to the tournament for Barty who was a shock loser in the first round of the singles to Sarah Sorribes-Tormo of Italy.

Barty and Storm Sanders were also bundled out in the quarterfinals of the women’s doubles where they went down in a super tie-breaker to the Czech pair Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova.

“It is strange. Heart breaking for Team Serbia not to walk out on the court tonight. For Johnny and I it is incredible. We were sitting getting ready to play and supervisors let us know,” Barty told Channel 7.

“We have put ourselves in a good position to play great tennis. We have played great and feel we deserve this.

“We thought they were joking at the first. We didn’t think it was going to happen and then … it is probably a little bit of disbelief and now we can relax and enjoy being bronze medallists.”

Before the mixed doubles bronze medal game walk-off Djokovic blew up in the men’s singles bronze medal match that started at 4pm AEST.

Novak Djokovic in his singles. Picture: AFP

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.

It is the first time top seed Djokovic has lost two straight singles matches since defeats by Dominic Thiem and Roger Federer at the 2019 ATP Tour Finals.

The match was a gripping encounter played over two hours and 47 minutes 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.

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

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.

Barty and Peers have won the Olympic bronze medal. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

This time he threw 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.

He was given a warning by the umpire after that second incident, but not following the first.