Will Novak Djokovic Play at the Rogers Cup 2021?

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics was as eventful as it could be. The tennis event, in particular, couldn’t be more entertaining than it got, right till the end of it. However, the tournament wasn’t as memorable for one as it was for others. The event made headlines around the misery of Novak Djokovic, who unfortunately returned empty-handed from Japan.

Novak Djokovic was the favorite for gold going into the tournament. However, in addition to the gold, but he also lost his bronze match against Pablo Carreno Busta, and ended up breaking and throwing racquets on course. The animated star was left shellshocked as he was beaten thrice in two days. With one defeat following another, Novak withdrew from his mixed doubles bronze match, citing injury concerns. However, his appearance at the upcoming Rogers Cup now hangs in the balance.

Novak Djokovic withdraws

The top seed of the tournament, Novak Djokovic, withdrew from the Rogers Cup, earlier this year. Throughout the season, the Serbian has been in remarkable form, playing at his prime best. However, his heroics came at the cost of his health, which showed in the fatigue at the Summer Games. Hence, a break was inevitable.

Novak isn’t the only one who withdrew from the Canadian event. Joining him are the likes of Dominic Thiem, David Goffin, and Stan Wawrinka. Courtesy of his withdrawal, Daniil Medvedev now becomes the top seed at the tournament.

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A disappointing display from Novak

Novak has had a rich history with the Canadian tournament. He’s triumphed at the tournament and clinched the title four times in 2007, 2011, 2012, and 2016. Hence, not having him feature in the star-studded lineup will be an enormous blow for both officials and fans. However, given his recent display at the Olympics, his absence won’t gain too much attention.

Bowing out of the tournament, Novak was seen smashing racquets. Infuriated, he also sent one flying into the empty stands. The world watched in despair as the once-unstoppable was rattled and unsettled. Despite respecting his emotion and passion, his behavior was termed unacceptable and condemned by most of the sporting world. Even his withdrawal from the next match tarnished his reputation further.

Amidst all these controversies, fans now wonder: what’s next for Novak Djokovic? Is a Calendar Slam still on the cards or has that flown away into the stands as well?

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