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Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Novak Djokovic keeps ‘golden slam’ dream alive after confirming trip to Games

  • This year’s Wimbledon, Australian Open and French Open winner said he is ‘very proud’ to represent Serbia in Tokyo
  • But Australian player Alex de Minaur forced to withdraw from Games after testing positive for Covid-19 before departure

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Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after beating Matteo Berrettini of Italy to win Wimbledon in July. Photo: Xinhua
World number one Novak Djokovic confirmed he will compete at the Tokyo Olympics as the Serb remains on course to achieve the ‘golden slam’ in tennis.
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Djokovic completed the third leg towards achieving the feat last weekend when he added the Wimbledon title to his Australian Open and French Open triumphs in 2021.

No man has ever won the four slams and an Olympic gold in the same year, with Germany’s Steffi Graf the only player to accomplish it in 1988.

After winning at Wimbledon, Djokovic said he was “50-50” about competing at the Games (July 23 to August 8) following the organisers’ decision to ban fans from attending and the restrictions on the number of people he can take to Tokyo.
 

But the 34-year-old said on Thursday he had booked his flight for Tokyo.

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“I am very proud to pack for Tokyo and join our national team in the fight for the brightest medals on the Olympic arenas,” Djokovic, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Games, tweeted.

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