Andy Murray started the defence of his Olympic singles title with a comfortable straight sets win over Viktor Troicki in the first round at the Rio Games.
Advertisement
The 2009 US Open victor Del Potro has dropped to 145th in the rankings after several wrist operations but was considered the most risky floater in the field and the toughest draw Djokovic could have had. It was a rematch of the London 2012 Games bronze medal match – which del Potro won.
Elsewhere, the man who got stuck in an elevator for 40 minutes and then beat Djokovic, Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro, got to the third round in men’s singles but lost to Spain’s Rafael Nadal in doubles. It was a surprise in London back in 2012, but it was an even bigger one this time around, with the world’s No. 1-ranked player being ousted in just the first round.
“I’m getting better. I’m in good shape, but I don’t know if I’m prepared to play six or more matches”, he said.
It can’t get any worse for world no 1 Novak Djokovic who exited the court in tears.
Juan Martin del Potro followed up his shock defeat of Novak Djokovic by downing Portugal’s Joao Sousa in front of a legion of passionate, vocal Argentine fans.
“In decisive moments, he just came up with some extraordinary tennis”, Djokovic said of the player he described as “a good friend of mine”.
Djokovic had eight aces in the match compared to just two for Del Potro. There was talk of a Golden Slam: all four major titles plus the Olympics in the same calendar year.
The Olympic gold is the biggest prize missing from the Serbian’s trophy cabinet after he finally won the French Open in June, becoming the first man in 47 years to hold all four Grand Slam titles at once.
Serena, 34, was more damning. “We honestly didn’t play our best whatsoever tonight”.
At least, Serena is still alive in the singles as the defending champion had the flawless start in her quest for a fifth Games gold medal overall, defeating Australia’s Daria Gavrilova 6-4, 6-2.
Williams will next face Alize Cornet, the Frenchwoman who defeated her three times in 2014, including at Wimbledon. He would upset fourth-seeded Stan Wawrinka in the second round there, a hint that he might yet still have some greatness left in him.
Advertisement
After he and Jamie wasted five set points in the second tiebreaker of their 7-6 (6), 7-6 (14) loss against Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci and Andre Sa, Andy said he would skip mixed doubles and let his brother play with Jo Konta.
