Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Novak Djokovic bid for Golden Slam ended by Alexander Zverev

Novak Djokovic’s quest for the Golden Slam has been ended by Germany’s Alexander Zverev, who beat the World No.1 1-6 6-3 6-1 in the men's singles semi-final on Friday.
Novak Djokovic's bid to win the Golden Slam has been ended by Alexander ZverevNovak Djokovic's bid to win the Golden Slam has been ended by Alexander Zverev
Novak Djokovic's bid to win the Golden Slam has been ended by Alexander Zverev

Djokovic has already won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon this year and needed success in Tokyo and the US Open to become the first man to achieve the Golden Slam and replicate Steffi Graf’s feat of 1988.

But Zverev had other ideas, and the Serb’s wait for an Olympic final appearance goes on.

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Djokovic comfortably took the first set but collapsed from a set and a break ahead, with fourth seed Zverev sending 30 winners past the 34-year-old, whose best Olympic performance remains his bronze in 2008.

Zverev is aiming to be the first German to win singles gold since Steffi Graf in 1988Zverev is aiming to be the first German to win singles gold since Steffi Graf in 1988
Zverev is aiming to be the first German to win singles gold since Steffi Graf in 1988

He lost to eventual winner Andy Murray at the semi-final stage at London 2012 and was reduced to tears after a first-round defeat by Juan Martin del Potro at Rio in 2016.

Djokovic hadn’t dropped a set in Tokyo prior to the semi-final and had dealt with home hope Kei Nishikori in just over an hour in the quarter-finals, winning 6-2 6-0.

Zverev, meanwhile, had seen off Jeremy Chardy of France in his last-eight encounter, winning 6-4 6-1 and is the first German to reach the Olympic final since Tommy Haas at Sydney 2000.

Zverev will face Russian Karen Khachanov for the gold medal on Sunday, where he is aiming to make more history by becoming the first German to win singles gold since Graf in Seoul more than 30 years ago.

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