AP

Serbia coach: team was against Djokovic’s mixed doubles play

Jul 28, 2021, 9:22 PM | Updated: Jul 29, 2021, 9:29 am

TOKYO (AP) — With so much on the line — the Golden Slam, the calendar-year Grand Slam, Olympic singles gold — it’s been a mystery to many why Novak Djokovic entered the mixed doubles tournament at the Tokyo Olympics.

Why risk injury or getting fatigued because of an event that doesn’t have much of a following and might distract from the more pressing goals within reach?

“I was against it. The whole team was against it,” Viktor Troicki, Serbia’s Olympic team coach and Davis Cup captain, told The Associated Press in an interview after Djokovic reached the semifinals in both singles and mixed on Thursday. “It was just him. He wanted to play.”

So there Djokovic was, partnering with Nina Stojanovic to beat the German pair of Laura Siegemund and Kevin Krawietz 6-1, 6-2 in a match that started less than two hours after he routed Kei Nishikori of host Japan 6-2, 6-0 in singles.

“I thought he had enough of tennis the last months,” Troicki said. “Really, he played so much.”

Djokovic, who has already won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon this year, needs the Tokyo Games title and the U.S. Open trophy in singles to become the first man to achieve the Golden Slam.

“Everyone was thinking about the singles,” Troicki said. “When he said he wanted to play mixed, I was like, ‘OK, (if) it means that much to him and he wants to prove that he’s ready and in the mixed matches he’s giving everything, he’s 100% focused on going all the way, then OK.’

“He’s looking for a harder challenge,” Troicki added with a laugh.

Marian Vajda and Goran Ivanisevic, Djokovic’s personal coaches, didn’t travel to Tokyo. But Troicki has been talking to Ivanisevic.

“It’s working well so far,” Troicki said. “I’m glad he’s having short matches in both events.”

Djokovic hasn’t lost a set yet in singles or mixed doubles.

But Djokovic could face his biggest test of the Olympic tournament against fifth-ranked Alexander Zverev on Friday — even though Djokovic holds a 6-2 career edge over the German and has not lost to Zverev in nearly three years.

“It’s probably the final before the finals,” Troicki said. “It’s going to be an interesting match.”

Karen Khachanov of ROC and Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain play in the other semifinal.

Troicki, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 12 in 2011, retired from playing after failing to qualify for Wimbledon this year. He was a teammate of Djokovic’s on the Serbian team that won the Davis Cup in 2010 — a title that many credit with giving Djokovic the motivation and belief that he could contend with tennis greats Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

More than a decade later, Djokovic matched Federer and Nadal with his 20th Grand Slam title by winning Wimbledon this month.

And if he completes the Golden Slam, he’ll also surpass both of his longtime rivals with his 21st major title at the U.S. Open and become the first man to win a calendar-year Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969.

The 34-year-old Djokovic is already the first man since Laver in ’69 to win the first three major tournaments in a season.

To Troicki, it doesn’t even matter what Djokovic does from here on in terms of the comparisons with Federer and Nadal — both of whom Djokovic holds winning records against.

“Already now, it’s obvious that he’s the greatest in our sport,” Troicki said. “The greatest ever to play and to achieve so many records.

“They’re both great champions, both Rafa and Roger, and I admire what they’ve done. But really Novak has (reached) new heights and new records and he’s for sure not going to stop here. He’s going to prove that he’s the best ever player.”

Still, Djokovic is often not as revered as Federer and Nadal are worldwide.

“There is no point of talking again and again about that question,” Troicki said. “Roger and Rafa came first. Novak came after them, from a small country, Serbia. … Some people are just more for Roger and Rafa because Novak came after them. Novak has his fans.”

Among the Big Three, only Djokovic came to Tokyo, and whether he wins gold or not, he’ll be going for the calendar Grand Slam at the U.S. Open starting next month.

“He’s mentally ready for everything,” Troicki said. “What he’s doing in our sport is something special and he’s mentally tougher than anyone ever in this game.”

___

Andrew Dampf is at https://twitter.com/AndrewDampf

___

More AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2020-tokyo-olympics and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Serbia coach: team was against Djokovic’s mixed doubles play