And it proved to be more Olympics heartache for Djokovic as he was beaten in straight sets in a high-quality contest that continued a disappointing second half of the season for the Serb.
Advertisement
Venus Williams, of the United States, reacts after losing a point in a doubles match with her sister Serena against Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova, of the Czech Republic, at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Bra.
“No doubt it’s one of the toughest losses of my life, in my career”, Djokovic told the New York Times.
Del Potro started the day by getting stuck in an elevator for 40 minutes at the athletes village where he had to be rescued by the Argentina handball team.
A top seed hasn’t won an Olympic gold medal since Andre Agassi in Atlanta in 1996.
“Got to take it on the chin”, said Jamie, the older brother of two-time Wimbledon victor Andy, “and move on”. He cried on the shoulder of Novak Djokovic as these two talented tennis players had their moment between them.
Del Potro, 27, has been ranked as high as no. 4 in the world, but has suffered due to three left wrist surgeries.
The 27-year-old Del Potro, who has dropped to 141st in the world after nearly two years out with wrist problems, did not face a single break point on his serve and hammered 29 forehand winners past a helpless Djokovic.
After his big win last month over Stan Wawrinka at Wimbledon, the signs continue to look good for del Potro on this comeback after things were so bleak a year ago. So, the Argentenian was all the more pleased with his effort. “That’s sport”, said world number one Djokovic, whose Olympic singles record is stalled at a bronze from Beijing in 2008.
All is not lost in his quest for gold as Novak and his doubles partner, Nenad Zimonjic, have made it into the second round, as reported by the official Rio Olympics site. “I was missing shots by, literally, centimeters, and I’m not really used to missing those shots”, Williams said. It’s not easy to handle but you have to deal with it.
Del Potro, defeated the Serbian in the bronze medal play-off at the London 2012 Olympics, his last renowned victory.
Earlier, defending champion Andy Murray won his opening Olympic singles match by beating Serbia’s Viktor Troicki. He won the second tiebreak 7 (7)-6 (0) to an ecstatic crowd.
Advertisement
The two embraced at the net and the tears then flowed as the disappointed Djokovic failed again in his bid for the elusive gold. “We like to play into the tournament but we played a tough team”, she said.
