“I Don’t Want This to Sound Like an Excuse”- Novak Djokovic Opens Up on Olympics Loss in Rio

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray joined the Instagram Live bandwagon today. The conversation between these two greats was quite interesting, to say the least. Born just a week apart, the duo has been playing each other since they were kids. They know each other well and are good friends off the courts. Talking to each other, they were very comfortable, really divulging some revealing thoughts about themselves.

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have a few laughs

One question that popped up in their conversation was which moment the two of them would like to change in their careers. Novak Djokovic gave quite a heartfelt answer.

“I think it would be the Olympic Games. So maybe the match I played against you in London (2012) or maybe Rafa in Beijing. I lost semis, also very close, three all or four all I had something like 15-40 or something like that, I lost 6-4, 7-5 in the third. I missed an overhead, very easy overhead, which is quite typical of me, of my career.”

Just then Andy hilariously chimed in saying “I think I’ve seen that one a couple of times”, making Nole chuckle away.

Djokovic, being a great sport, added that Murray had seen one of his infamous overhead misses at the 2012 US Open final too.

“Set point, second set, I was at the net and you gave me one of your famous lobs that hit the satellite and came back.”

“It was very windy that day to be fair“, said Murray, giving Novak a lifeline.

“Thanks, man I really appreciate it, I feel better now. But still a very lousy miss”, concluded a laughing Novak.

Rio Olympics 2016

Getting back to the original question Novak continued.

“I would say the Olympic Games. I had the fortune to have great success in my career and win all four Slams and all Masters series and I did win Bronze in Beijing.”

“Was really feeling good in Rio (2016).  I’d lost in the third round of Wimbledon so I had enough time to get ready and I won Canada (Rogers Cup). So I came to Rio full of confidence; I had like the 15 best months of my career behind me before Rio.” 

“I remember I was practicing for two hours on the centre court, singles. And then, I went on with Serbian guys to practice for another, like an hour, hour and a half, doubles. And, I start to feel my wrist at the end of the doubles sets that we played. I was like I’m tired, and you know. But it starts to be more painful, more painful.”

“And, I don’t want this to sound like an excuse like it’s because of that that I lost to del Potro, it’s absolutely not. I mean I was enabled, I did get some injections and I had to go out on the court and try. But I felt really sad that I wasn’t at my best, and I had a really tough draw. I felt like if I had a slightly better draw I could have, kind of, worked my way into the tournament.”

“So probably yes, if I had the chance to turn back time and change the outcome it would be Rio or in London against you.”

Andy’s moment

Novak lost the first round clash against Juan Martin del Potro 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2). Murray would go on to beat del Potro in the final to claim his second Olympic Gold.

When Nole asked Murray about his moment, Murray cited his match against the Serb at the 2015 French Open semi-final. Novak won that match 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 5-7, 6-1 over the course of two days. Djokovic would lose the final to Stan Wawrinka, but come back the following year and win the clay Major.