Boris Becker discusses the match that broke Novak Djokovic's heart

One event that Novak Djokovic has never won is the Olympics. Meanwhile, he has watched Andy Murray win twice and Rafael Nadal win once. Both, of course, representing their countries and likely neither of them is the icon that Djokovic is in Serbia.

Djokovic hasn't even medaled at the event. Not that he isn't worthy, of course. He is arguably (and statistically) the greatest player who has ever picked up a racket. If he hasn't yet won an Olympics, likely that is only accidental.

He will have another chance - likely, his last chance - in 2024. The issue is that while he can win on the clay courts of the French Open, that is not his best surface. Had the Olympics been held on the courts of the Australian Open in Melbourne, the Serb might get his gold. This summer he would be a betting favorite behind Carlos Alcaraz and even Nadal.

Boris Becker discusses one of Novak Djokovic's most heartbreaking losses

Boris Becker was coaching the Serbian team in 2016 when Djokovic suffered what might have been his most heartbreaking loss. The German also coached the Serb personally from 2013 through 2016. In other words, the leadership Djokovic got at the Olympics in 2016 was solid.

That did not stop the Serb from losing in the first round of the tournament to Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro. Immediately after the match and in the days beyond, Becker said Djokovic was inconsolable. Losing in a regular ATP event is one thing but feeling like you are failing a country that sees you as a national treasure is completely different.

Becker told a Discovery+ and Eurosport event as part of the lead-up to next week's Olympics, "I don’t know if you understand the importance of Novak Djokovic in Serbia. He could be President...He is a proper icon in Serbia...You can’t imagine the expectation and the power he has when he plays for Serbia...Then he lost in the first round and you just couldn’t speak to him for the first couple of days as he was heartbroken. It was one of the biggest disappointments in his career."

Djokovic was injured at the French Open, had surgery on his knee, and then returned to play at Wimbledon and made the final where he was dominated by Alcaraz. He wants to win a gold medal but winning any medal might be a victory at this point. Even if he loses to Alcaraz in the final, a silver medal would be a victory for Serbia.

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