Novak Djokovic completed the game of tennis at the Olympic Games, winning the elusive gold medal and adding the 15th notable trophy to his incredible collection. For the rest of his career, the Serb will focus on Majors and national duties, committing himself to chasing the second Davis Cup trophy for Serbia.
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Novak missed a chance to clinch it last year in Malaga, squandering three match points against Jannik Sinner in the semi-final. Serbia led against Italy following Miomir Kecmanovic's triumph over Lorenzo Musetti. The 24-time Major winner faced an in-form rival in the second tie, battling against Sinner for the third time within 11 days.
The young gun scored a 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 victory in two hours and 32 minutes. He defended those match points in the tenth game of the decider and rattled off three games to emerge at the top and keep his country alive. Djokovic admitted he often thinks about the match points (especially the first) and what he could have done better.
The Italian stayed focused and emerged at the top in style, ending the Serb's streak of 21 Davis Cup singles wins. The more experienced player took four points more than his opponent, playing better behind the first and second serve and firing 12 aces.
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However, he seized only two of nine break points and got broken three times from four opportunities presented to his rival. Jannik took charge in the opening set, outplaying Novak from the baseline and presenting reliable serving.
World no. 1 could not follow that pace, suffering back-to-back breaks and losing ground. The Serb held at 15 in the first game of the encounter before missing a volley at 1-1, wasting a game point and suffering a break that sent the Italian 2-1 in front.
Sinner held in game four and made another push on the return in the next one. The young gun painted a backhand down the line winner on the second break point, rattling off the fourth straight game and forging a 4-1 advantage.
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Novak Djokovic will try to win another Davis Cup title for Serbia next year.
Jannik held at 15 in the sixth game and wrapped up the set with a hold at love at 5-2, firing an ace and closing the first part of the duel in 37 minutes.
Djokovic stepped in and raised his level in the second set, losing four points in his games in a massive contrast to the opener. He grabbed two breaks and leveled the overall score in style, forcing a decider and hoping to seal the deal for Serbia.
Novak extended the fourth game with a backhand winner and welcomed Jannik's double fault to clinch a break and forge a 3-1 advantage. The world's best player cemented it with a service winner in game five, extending the gap and holding after a deuce two games later for 5-2.
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Djokovic attacked on the return in the eighth game and welcomed Sinner's forehand error on the third set point, clinching this part of the encounter 6-2 and forcing a decider after an hour and 19 minutes. The 24-time Major held at love in the first game and made another push on the return in the next one.
The Italian squandered six game points and landed a forehand long to offer his opponent a break chance. The young gun denied it with a powerful serve and brought the game home with an ace, avoiding an early setback.
Jannik grabbed the sixth game after a deuce before Novak secured the next one with a service winner that sent him 4-3 in front. The eighth game could have been crucial, with the Serb generating a break chance. The youngster denied it with a forehand drive-volley winner and held after the rival's loose forehand for 4-4.
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Djokovic left that opportunity behind, holding at love in game nine and creating three match points on the return at 5-4 after
Sinner's volley mistake at the net.
World no. 1 missed his chance on the first, and the Italian denied the second and third with winner, producing a pivotal hold with an ace and gathering a massive boost. Despite his vast experience, Novak could not overcome this setback.
He netted a routine backhand in the 11th game and faced a break point. The veteran went for a serve & volley, but the youngster passed him with a forehand down the line winner, clinching a break and serving for the win at 6-5.
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Seeking his second win over Djokovic within 11 days, Sinner fired an ace in the 12th game for two match points. He seized the first with a powerful serve, celebrating a notable victory and keeping Italy's chances alive. "I take full responsibility for not winning last year's Davis Cup. I often thought about what I should have done against Jannik on match points," Novak Djokovic said.
