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'Poor form': Novak Djokovic savaged over 'shameful' Olympics act

andrew reid
·4-min read
Novak Djokovic can be seen here smashing a racquet in his loss to Pablo Carreno-Busta at the Olympics.
Novak Djokovic threw more than one tantrum in his loss to Pablo Carreno-Busta in the bronze medal match. Pic: Eurosport/Getty

World No.1 Novak Djokovic has come under fire from tennis fans after suffering an explosive meltdown in his Olympic bronze medal match, before withdrawing from the mixed doubles event.

Djokovic's hopes of completing a rare 'golden slam' were ended by Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals of the competition in Tokyo and his Olympic Games campaign went from bad to worse after losing Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta beat him 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 to in the bronze medal match.

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After dropping the first set, Djokovic was facing match point in the tiebreaker of the second set, but fought back to send the match into a decider.

However, the Spaniard found another gear in the third set as he claimed bronze against the 20-time grand slam champion.

Djokovic came under fire a couple of explosive moments during his loss against Carreno-Busta, with the Serb throwing his racquet into the stands at one point as his frustrations got the better of him.

He also later smashed his racquet into the net in disgust, prompting viewers to take aim at the World No.1.

Uproar as Novak Djokovic withdraws from mixed doubles

However, the biggest controversy erupted shortly after the 20-time grand slam champion's loss, when he announced that he was withdrawing from the bronze medal match in the mixed doubles, that followed shortly after his singles match.

The bombshell decision meant the Aussie pair of Ash Barty and John Peers won a bronze medal by default.

Seen here, Australians Ash Barty and John Peers competing in the mixed doubles in Tokyo.
Australians Ash Barty and John Peers were gifted bronze medals after Djokovic's withdrawal from the mixed doubles. Pic: Getty

Djokovic citing a shoulder injury that he picked up in the gruelling singles defeat to Carreno-Busta as the reason why he pulled out of the doubles.

Many questioned his decision to play both events in the first place, considering it was his goal to try and complete the 'golden slam' in the singles.

Pictured here, Novak Djokovic leaves Tokyo empty handed after failing to win a medal in singles or doubles.
Novak Djokovic leaves Tokyo empty handed after failing to win a medal in singles or doubles. Pic: Getty

Attention soon turned to the Serb's mixed doubles partner Nina Stojanovic, and how she must have felt to be denied a medal.

Regardless of the fact Djokovic was apparently carrying an injury, furious fans took aim at the 34-year-old's decision on social media.

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