Tokyo 2020: Zverev Beats Djokovic to Reach Gold Medal Match

July 30, 2021 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
zverev crop
Photo courtesy of USTA/Simon Bruty

 

There will be no Golden Slam for Novak Djokovic. The top-ranked Serb, in pursuit of history as he sought to win all four Grand Slams and an Olympic Gold Medal this year, was ousted by Germany’s Alexander Zverev on Friday.

Zverev notched a 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Djokovic, ensuring himself at least a silver medal.

“It’s an amazing feeling, knowing that you’re going to bring the medal back to your house, back home to Germany,” Zverev, who will play Russia’s Karen Khachanov for the Gold Medal, told ITFtennis.com. “It’s incredible beating the best player in the world undoubtedly right now, and in this season. It seemed it was impossible to beat him at this event, so I’m very happy right now. But there’s still one match to go. I know that he was chasing history, chasing the golden slam and was chasing the Olympics, but in these kinds of moments me and Novak are very close.

Of course I’m happy that I’ve won, but at the end of the day I know how Novak feels. I told him that he’s the greatest of all time, and he will be”

According to Olympics.com, Djokovic said:

“Tough day, a really tough day. I feel so terrible right now. I was leading a set then a break and he managed to turn the match around, he served huge, was attacking, and I was not getting any free points on my first serves. To play someone of his quality, of his level, it’s just too tough to win a match (like that).”

Khachanov defeated Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-3 in his match on Friday to adbance to the Gold Medal match.

“It was so important to win today because at least you know for sure that you’re guaranteed a medal, which is one of the dreams come true,” Khachanov told ITFtennis.com. “But obviously, you need to find motivation and excitement, and I will try to be prepared for the final and fight for the gold.”

In the Women’s Gold Medal match, Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic will play Marketa Vondrousova. For the Bronze Medal, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina will take on Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan.

Croatia earned both the Gold and Silver Medals in Men’s Doubles, as Nikola Meketic & Mate Pavic won 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 over countrymen Marin Cilic & Ivan Dodig in the Gold Medal match on Friday. The New Zealand pairing of Marcus Daniell & Michael Venus earned the country’s first Olympic tennis medal as they defeated Americans Austin Krajicek & Tennys Sandgren 7-6(3), 6-2.

 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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