In a recent interview, Viktor Troicki discussed Novak Djokovic’s emotional and physical struggles during the Tokyo Olympics.
Troicki described Djokovic’s experience as “heartbreaking,” emphasizing the immense pressure and exhaustion he faced. Djokovic, who was a heavy favorite for the gold medal, had his hopes dashed when he lost to Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals, followed by a defeat in the bronze medal match against Pablo Carreno Busta.
Troicki revealed that Djokovic was “physically and emotionally destroyed” after the Tokyo Games. The weight of high expectations and the challenge of performing under such intense scrutiny took a significant toll on the Serbian player.
Despite these setbacks, Troicki expressed optimism about Djokovic’s future, noting that he is expected to be a “new player” in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Djokovic’s resilience and ability to bounce back from adversity are well recognized, and Troicki believes he will come to Paris refreshed and ready to reclaim his top form.
It’s my second Olympic Games as a coach after Tokyo. My fourth year as a captain of Serbia, also in the Davis Cup. Throughout these years, I’ve been getting experience being on the bench of Novak, the best player in the history of this game. It’s not easy. People think it’s easy to coach him because he’s the best and he plays and he wins. No.
