Novak Djokovic ‘sad’ Tokyo 2020 Olympics are postponed but admits it was right decision

TENNIS great Novak Djokovic admits he was sad to see Tokyo 2020 Olympics postponed but says it was the right decision.

The 32-year-old Serb was due to play in Japan this summer as part of the Olympic tennis tournament.

But the Tokyo Games were finally called off yesterday after pressure from all quarters and will take place next year.

Djokovic, who won bronze at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, posted a picture on Twitter and said: “Took this photo last year in Japan. I’m sad the Olympics are postponed, but I am sure it‘s the right decision for the collective health of everyone involved. Let’s look forward to Tokyo Olympics 2021.”

Djokovic won his 17th grand slam earlier this year at the Australian Open in Melbourne – his eighth title down under.

Tennis’ calendar has been decimated by the coronavirus pandemic with the entire European clay court season postponed.

The French Open has been rearranged for September after the US Open, while a decision has yet to be taken on Wimbledon in the summer.

The 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo were also finally postponed for a year yesterday.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pulled the plug on this summer’s Games, which will be rescheduled for next year.

Abe spoke to International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach on Tuesday morning.

The PM urged, on behalf of his government, a 12-month postponement of the Games – with Bach “100 per cent” agreeing to postpone it by a year.