It’s a bad day for people who are usually very good at tennis.
Following Serena Williams‘ illness-affected exit from the women’s doubles alongside sister Venus, men’s world number one Novak Djokovic has been sensationally bundled out of the Rio Games in the first round of the men’s singles competition, after being rolled by Argentinian Juan Martin Del Potro in straight sets.
The Argentinian, ranked 141st in the world, spent 40 minutes prior to his big game living out an actual nightmare situation, after becoming stuck in a lift in the Athlete’s Village with no phone reception or emergency call options. Del Potro resorted to selfie-taking and very limited internet to get his distress call out.
This is how Delpo started the day: trapped in an elevator at the Olympic village for 40 minutes. pic.twitter.com/EFNmOKqIwE
— Jorge Viale (@jorgeviale) August 7, 2016
After being rescued, not by officials or maintenance workers but by members of the Argentinian European Handball team (seriously), Del Potro fronted up to his first round match against the current best in the world, and smacked him out of the park in a tense 7-6 7-6 victory.
Djokovic’s shock first-round loss reduced the 12-time Grand Slam singles champion to tears, as his push for an elusive Olympic Gold Medal was de-railed as quickly as it begun.
Seriously, going from stuck in a lift to beating the world number one. They say the Olympics is all about the highs and the lows, but that’s being enduring in a literal dream AND a nightmare on the very same day.
The games, pals. It’s a wild ride.
Photo: Jorge Viale/Twitter.
