After their strained mixed doubles partnership at the Tokyo Olympics, Serbian tennis player Nina Stojanovic has spoken out about Novak Djokovic’s behaviour and the negative comments she received from his fans.
In a recent episode of the Reketiranje Podcast, Stojanovic disclosed that she and Djokovic have not addressed the incident that occurred at the Olympics, despite having met a few times since then. However, she did acknowledge that Djokovic has remained interested in her career, even congratulating her on a recent victory. Despite her gratitude for his well wishes, Stojanovic admitted that certain aspects of their fallout remain unresolved.
Stojanovic further expressed the unpleasant experience of receiving “ugly” comments from Djokovic’s supporters, some of whom unfairly blamed her for his disappointing singles performance in Tokyo. Allegations emerged that her participation in doubles had worn out Djokovic, hindering his success in the singles matches. She found this reaction disheartening and emphasized the need to avoid distorting the narrative.
The fallout from the Tokyo Olympics marked a turbulent period for Djokovic, who missed out on securing an Olympic gold medal – a prestigious accolade that has eluded him thus far in his career. Following the event, Djokovic underwent surgery, prompting questions about his future participation in major tennis tournaments. Despite these concerns, it is expected that he will be fit to compete at the upcoming Olympics in Paris, although his presence at Wimbledon remains uncertain following his recent medical procedure.
This revelation comes after Djokovic’s abrupt withdrawal from the mixed doubles match with Stojanovic, leaving her to face Ashleigh Barty and John Peers without him. The abandonment of his partnership with Stojanovic was met with disapproval from the tennis community, as it was considered unsportsmanlike conduct from the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
The incident tarnished the otherwise illustrious career of Djokovic, who had been pursuing a Golden Slam – an achievement that involves winning all four major Grand Slam tournaments and a gold medal at the Olympics within a calendar year. His failure to secure the elusive gold medal in Tokyo, combined with his unexpected exit from the Olympics, heightened the scrutiny placed upon his conduct and raised doubts about his future performances at major events.
Ultimately, the aftermath of Djokovic’s actions at the Tokyo Olympics left a lasting mark on his reputation, while highlighting the challenges faced by his former partner, Nina Stojanovic, who confronted disparaging remarks from Djokovic’s supporters. As Djokovic looks ahead to his upcoming tournaments, the fallout from his actions remains a topic of discussion within the tennis community.