Djokovic Opens Up About the Darkest Moment of His Career: Losing at the 2016 Olympics Felt Like the World Was Falling Apart

Djokovic recently spoke publicly for the first time about the darkest moment in his professional career—the first-round exit in the men’s singles at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

He stated in the interview that although he was at the height of his career and had just accomplished the “calendar-spanning Grand Slam,” he was struggling with a wrist injury and after two grueling tiebreaks, narrowly lost to his friend Del Potro.

From a competitive perspective, this was supposed to be a one-sided match. Del Potro was ranked only 145th in the world at the time and had been away from the tour for two and a half years due to three wrist surgeries. However, the unpredictability of sports was vividly demonstrated in that moment.

The atmosphere during the match was extremely tense, with neither player able to break serve throughout, and every set going to a deciding tiebreak. Del Potro hit 40 winners, while Djokovic paid the price for 30 unforced errors in the match.

After the match, the two friends embraced at the net for a long time, both shedding tears. Del Potro’s tears reflected the emotion of overcoming hardships to return and defeat the world number one; Djokovic’s tears carried the weight of a shattered dream.

As he left the court, Djokovic covered his eyes with his hand, a heartbreaking scene of sorrow. In the mixed zone interview, with red eyes, he admitted, “This wasn’t my first loss, but you have to understand this is the Olympics, held only once every four years, and that feeling is completely different.”

Djokovic recalled that during training in Rio, he felt in excellent form, “During those training days, I felt like I couldn’t make a mistake, I thought this was my moment and no one could beat me here.”

However, the wrist injury flared up a day or two before the match, disrupting everything. “My wrist started reacting. I began doubting myself, hesitating whether to play.” The injury not only affected his physical condition but also shook his mental resilience.

The defeat at the Rio Olympics had a profound impact on Djokovic; the match was named one of the “Top 5 Biggest Upsets” of the Rio Games by the media. The loss brought not only psychological wounds but also affected his following season.

Regarding this, Djokovic confessed, “The best moments and the worst moments both happened at the Olympics.” He explained that because the Olympics occur only every four years, the opportunity is very rare, unlike other tournaments that happen annually.

Djokovic’s pain in Rio resonated widely throughout the tennis community, sparking passionate discussions among fans.

One fan commented, “For a champion of Djokovic’s caliber, missing out on an Olympic gold medal is truly a regret, especially since he values representing his country so much.”

The American TV program “60 Minutes” described Djokovic as “a man trying to carry his nation on his shoulders.” In response, Djokovic said, “It’s both a heavy burden and my greatest motivation.”

Serbian compatriot Tipsarevic once joked, “I even teased Novak that if he wins another great title, the country might join the EU faster.” Though a joke, it reflects Djokovic’s unique status in Serbian society.

After the Rio loss, he once said, “If you were representing a country other than Serbia, like Switzerland, wouldn’t the pressure be much less?” But it is this responsibility and pride of playing for his nation that makes his Olympic journey so moving.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)