Tokyo 2020: Novak Djokovic denied bronze by Pablo Carreno Busta

World number one Novak Djokovic’s Olympic quest was ended without a singles medal after defeat by Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta in the bronze-medal match.

Djokovic was out of sorts at points in the match, and the Spaniard punished him for it on the way to a 6-4 7-6 6-3 win.

He then withdrew from the mixed doubles bronze-medal match he was due to play alongside Nina Stojanovic, citing a shoulder injury, meaning he leaves Tokyo 2020 without a medal.

The Serbian player’s serve had abandoned him in his match against Alexander Zverev, and it failed to reappear for the first set – Carreno Busta broke for 3-2, and then retained the lead as he marched forward to a 6-4 victory.

Djokovic made his presence known in the second set, which was much tighter as a result. He raced to a 4-1 lead, but the Spaniard mounted a comeback, moving the score line to 6-5 in his favour and having an opportunity for match point. The top seed defended well, and took three straight points to force a decider.

But there, his calm composure seemed to abandon him. In the opening game, at deuce, he lost a point and launched his racquet into the stands. He destroyed another racquet as he fell 3-0 behind – Carenno Busta was clearly surprised that his opponent was not penalised, but he did not let it prevent him from sealing the match.

After the match, Djokovic said: “I do have a regret for not winning a medal for my country. Opportunities missed both in doubles and singles. I didn’t deliver yesterday and today, the level of tennis dropped, also due to exhaustion, mentally and physically.

“But I don’t regret coming to the Olympics at all. I believe there is no coincidence in life, everything happens for a reason, and I had some heart-breaking losses at Olympic Games and some big tournaments in my career, and I know that those losses have usually made me stronger, in every aspect.

“I know that I will bounce back. I will try to keep going for Paris Olympic Games, I will fight for my country to win medals and I’m sorry that I disappointed a lot of sports fans in my country, but that’s sport.

“I gave it my all, whatever I had left in the tank, which was not so much. I felt it out on the court. The consequences physically hopefully will not create a problem for me for US Open. That’s something that I’m not sure about right now.

“But I’m not regretting giving it all because, when you play for your country, that’s necessary.”

Djokovic had hoped to become only the second player in history to complete the Golden Slam, winning all four majors and an Olympic gold in the same year. He could still complete the Calendar Slam if he wins the US Open – Steffi Graff is the last person to have achieved either feat (both in 1988).