Djokovic says he will play Tokyo Olympics 鈥榳ith much pride鈥�

Novak Djokovic presents his tennis racquet to a young fan after winning the men's singles final of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on July 11, 2021. (AP file photo)
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  • The 34-year-old has already won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon titles this year
  • He needs Olympic gold and then the US Open to become the first man to capture the Golden Grand Slam

PARIS: World number one Novak Djokovic said Thursday he will play at the Tokyo Olympics, giving him the opportunity to achieve the first calendar Golden Slam by a male player.
鈥淚 booked my flight for Tokyo and will proudly be joining #TeamSerbia for the Olympics,鈥� tweeted Djokovic in English.
鈥淲ith much pride I鈥檓 packing for Tokyo and joining our national team in the fight for the brightest medals at the Olympic arenas,鈥� he then tweeted in Serbian.
鈥淔or me playing for Serbia was always a special joy and motivation and I will give my best to make us all happy. Let鈥檚 go.鈥�
The 34-year-old has already won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon titles this year.
He needs Olympic gold and then the US Open to become the first man to capture the Golden Grand Slam.
The calendar Golden Slam has only ever been achieved once in the women鈥檚 game when Steffi Graf swept the board of all four majors and Olympic gold at Seoul in 1988.
Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi have claimed career Golden Slams.
Djokovic鈥檚 path to potential gold in Tokyo had already been eased by the decision of rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to skip the tournament.
US Open champion Dominic Thiem is also an absentee.
Djokovic won a bronze medal in singles at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing where he was defeated by Nadal in the semifinals before beating James Blake of the United States for third place.
At London in 2012, he carried Serbia鈥檚 flag at the opening ceremony but was again a semifinal loser at the hands of Andy Murray.
He was defeated by Juan Martin del Potro in the bronze medal match.
Del Potro also beat him in the first round in Rio four years later.
Djokovic鈥檚 announcement on Thursday came just four days after he had cast doubt on his participation at the Games.
Having defeated Matteo Berrettini for a sixth Wimbledon title and 20th career Grand Slam crown on Sunday, Djokovic admitted he had cooled on making the trip, saying it was only 鈥�50/50鈥� if he would participate.
鈥淎s I said, my plan was always to go to the Olympic Games. But right now I鈥檓 a little bit divided. It鈥檚 kind of 50/50 because of what I heard in the last couple of days,鈥� said Djokovic.
The Serb had always insisted he would think twice if the Covid-19 protocols in Japan became too strict and if fans were banned.
All venues at the Games, which start on July 23, will be closed to spectators as the Japanese authorities look to limit the risks of Covid-19.
Foreign visitors have been barred as have family members of visiting athletes.
鈥淭hat was really disappointing to hear. I also hear that there鈥檚 going to be a lot of restrictions within the Village,鈥� said Djokovic.
鈥淧ossibly you would not be able to see other athletes perform live.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 even have my stringer that is a very important part of my team. I鈥檓 limited with the amount of people I can take in my team as well. I鈥檒l have to think about it.鈥�
The Olympics tennis event will also be missing Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Angelique Kerber and Bianca Andreescu 鈥� all major winners 鈥� from the women鈥檚 tournament.
Other absentees from the men鈥檚 side include British number one Dan Evans, Australian crowd pleaser Nick Kyrgios, David Goffin of Belgium and Canadian duo Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil.
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