Tennis at the Olympics could lose the world number one! Empty stadiums are to blame

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic has expressed in a recent interview that his participation in the Olympic tournament in Tokyo is not certain. By not participating in the Olympics, the world number one would lose the opportunity to win the so-called “Golden Slam”, or winning all 4 Grand Slam tournaments and the Olympic Games in one year.

So far in tennis history, only Germany’s Steffi Graff has managed to do that, achieving this incredible feat in 1988. Until now she is the only person in the history of men’s and women’s tennis who managed to win the “Golden Slam”.

So far this year, Djokovic has not found an opponent at the Grand Slams. After wins at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, the Serbian sits on an imaginary throne that will be hard for players to dethrone. So far, it looks like the most that could knock Djokovic out of the game is his own decisions or health problems.

And it is his own decision, along with the decision from Japan, that has now muddled the world number one’s thoughts. The Olympic competitions this year will be completely without spectators.

“I also heard that there will be a lot of restrictions in the Olympic Village as well, so it’s possible that it will be impossible to see other athletes live,” Djokovic let slip.

“At the moment I’m a bit undecided. It’s kind of 50-50 with what I’ve heard in the last few days,” the world number one added about the non-participation of fans.

He has definitely at least put his supporters, who would like to see Djokovic attack the “Golden Slam”, in doubt.

All things considered, even the Serb himself would be going against himself by pulling out of the Olympics, and so it is relatively likely that we will see him fighting for the gold medal in Japan.

Source: BBC Sport