Spanish tennis star Pablo Carreno Busta believes that Novak Djokovic is a firm favourite to clinch Gold at the Tokyo Olympics. The Serb recently won the Wimbledon title after he defeated Italian sensation Matteo Berrettini in the finals. He has now won all three Grand Slams this season and is gunning for more glory.
The 34-year-old’s main target will be to win the Gold medal and then follow it by winning the US Open. It will be historic for the Serb to achieve the Calendar Golden Slam as his name will be immortalised along with that of Steffi Graff who has also achieved this elusive honour.
Speaking after winning the Hamburg Open, Carreno Busta heaped high praises for Djokovic and how he is a favourite in Tokyo. He said, “Novak Djokovic is above everyone. He seems unbeatable,” Carreno Busta was quoted as telling EFE by AS. “He is at a very high level, and if there is a favourite in Tokyo it is him.”
The current World No. 1 is ageing like fine wine and with every event, he only gets better. The Wimbledon triumph was his 20th Grand Slam as he equalled Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
However, with so many records broken and also with so many left, Carreno Busta believes that there will be a lot of pressure on the Serb at the Olympics. But the Spaniard wants to focus more on his game as he will also be representing Spain at the Summer Games.
“But he (Novak Djokovic) is also the opponent to beat, the one with all the pressure behind him,” Carreno Busta said. “I (cannot) fixate on him or what he’s going to do. I have to focus on myself.”
Spain are a pretty strong team when it comes to tennis. But with Nadal and Roberto Bautista Agut withdrawing from the Summer Games, Carreno Busta will lead Spain in the men’s event. The 30-year-old spoke about Nadal’s withdrawal and how his age and injuries have been a very crucial role. Nadal has already bagged two Gold medals at the Olympics therefore skipping the Games won’t affect much.
Rafa, in the end, is a 34 or 35-year-old player who has already won two gold medals, one individual and one in doubles,” Carreno Busta said. “He has played a lot throughout his career.”
“He had already given up on Wimbledon. It was not a whim,” the World No. 11 concluded. “Surely, he must have thought about it a lot and thought about what is best for his career.”
