SLAMMED

Alexander Zverev Ends Novak Djokovic’s Dreams of ‘Golden Slam’ in Tokyo

The world No. 1 looked unbeatable coming into the Olympic competition—until Germany’s Alexander Zverev unleashed his forehand.

After winning the first three Grand Slam tournaments of the year, Novak Djokovic arrived at the Tokyo Olympics determined to become the first man to win the “Golden Slam”—but Germany’s Alexander Zverev punctured that dream in Friday’s semifinals. The Serb looked to be well in control after taking the first set 6-1 and breaking Zverev’s serve early in the second, to put himself only three games from victory. Then, as The New York Times reported, Zverev unleashed his “booming serve” and “crushing forehand” to break Djokovic’s focus. In a Grand Slam-style five-setter, Djokovic might have fought back, but Zverev ran out the 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 winner. Steffi Graf remains the only player to have achieved the Golden Slam, in 1988.