World No 1 Novak Djokovic’s bid to win a Golden Slam came to a tragic end at the Tokyo Olympics when Alexander Zverev defeated him 1-6, 6-3, 6-1. The German will now play Karen Khachanov of ROC in Sunday’s men’s singles final. 

Djokovic was on a hot streak. He came into the Olympics after winning the Australian, French Open and Wimbledon. Winning an Olympic gold medal and then the US Open, to be played later this year, would have added the Serb’s name to the elite list of Gloden Slam winners. 

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The 20-time Grand Slam winner rushed through Zverev in the first set. He lost the second and third. Zverev won seven consecutive games to a 4-0 lead in the deciding set. Zverev broke Djokovic’s serve for a third time in the last set to take the match. The two embraced after the match and walked off. 

Zverev will now face ROC’s Karen Khachanov in the final. The world No 1 will meet Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain in the bronze medal match.

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Novak Djokovic was on a  23-match winning streak. He had lost just two games against Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals. With no Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to battle, he was the favourite for the gold medal. 

Djokovic had persuaded the organisers to shift the start of play from 11 AM to 3 PM in order to avoid the worst of the heat. But conditions were still extremely difficult despite the match not beginning approximately at 5 PM.