“It was going to be hard for him,” Carreno Busta recalls how he beat Novak Djokovic in the bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics

Carreno Busta has been included in Spanish Tennis Team for the Paris Olympics despite injury struggle last year.

“It was going to be hard for him,” Carreno Busta recalls how he beat Novak Djokovic in the bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics

Pablo Carreno Busta and Novak Djokovic (via Imago)

Spanish star Pablo Carreno Busta earned his biggest career win when he defeated Novak Djokovic in the third-place match at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Three years later, the 32-year-old recalls the tactics he used to defeat the Serbian, days after being included in the Spanish Tennis Team to play at the Paris Olympics.

Djokovic had arrived for the Tokyo Olympics to achieve a Golden Slam. He had won the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon and was seen as a favorite. But, he will leave without a medal and would need weeks to recover after a draining performance in extreme conditions.

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The top seed Djokovic lost his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev and had to play for bronze. Against Busta in a third-place match, the Serbian abused his racket several times in his 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3 loss. It was Djokovic’s third defeat in two days, having lost his doubles match earlier on.

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In the documentary “En route pour Paris” produced by Eurosport, Carreno Busta explained that Djokovic was mentally weak for the match and he used it to his advantage.

I knew that, mentally, it was going to be hard for him and that he was going to be more affected than me. He seemed to want to move very quickly, as if he was saying to himself: 'well, I'm the best, I'm going to get rid of this guy quickly'.
Pablo Carreno Busta said

Djokovic’s loss led him to withdraw from his mixed doubles match with his Serbian partner Nina Stojanovic against Ash Barty and John Peers for the bronze medal match.

Carreno Busta included in the Spanish Team for the Paris Olympics despite being ranked below the Top 1000

Pablo Carreno Busta was among those included to represent Spain at the Paris Olympics. The Spanish Olympic Committee surprisingly announced his name, even though he was injured for most of 2023.

Pablo Carreno Busta
Pablo Carreno Busta (Via Imago)

His inclusion in the Olympic team caused a stir and did not sit well with their compatriot, Pedro Martinez. Martinez is ranked above the Top 40 in the ATP rankings but Busta was chosen because he won the bronze medal at the 2021 Olympics.

The 32-year-old reached his career-high ranking of No.10 in September 2017, but his career has been turbulent due to injury. He is presently below the Top 1000 and has been playing majorly in the ATP Challengers. He earned a wildcard for the Mallorca Championship but lost to Roberto Carballes Baena in the first round.

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