Google News Tokyo 2021: Djokovic said it is strange not to see Federer and Nadal
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Novak Djokovic has announced his participation in the Tokyo Olympics by sending a special message to little Koujirou, a Japanese fan who follows with affection all the games of his idol. The Serbian champion, considering the numerous absences among the top players, showed great love for his country and, despite the doubts related to the absence of fans and the strict rules established by the Japanese government, he decided to pursue yet another important goal of his splendid career.
The two big absentees will certainly be Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The Swiss preferred to focus on his recovery path and not strain his knee too much; the Spaniard instead decided not to participate in the Wimbledon tournament and the Olympics to prepare for the American Tour in the best possible way.
In fact, Nadal's real goal is to win the Us Open and win the twenty-first major in his career. Djokovic talked in the press conference about the absence of the public and the forfeits of Federer and Nadal. He said: "The absence of the public was a problem, yes.
In the end, however, I thought that the Olympics are always the Olympics. And I'm happy I decided to come. There are neither Roger Federer nor Rafael Nadal: I haven't done many tournaments without them, it's strange not to see them.
But there are still some of the best players in the world in this tournament. Luckily I'll tackle them later, so now I can focus on playing my way. I feel good, physically and mentally: I had the best possible season, I arrive at this appointment with the best possible preparation.
I hope to have a good tournament, also because on the field of the Games I have already won a tournament, even if it was not so hot. At the risk of being trivial, I want to face one day at a time and one opponent at a time.
This is the approach I need to have, because I didn't have it in the past." 
Tokyo 2021: Novak Djokovic wants to rewrite history
Novak Djokovic, one of the most anticipated stars of Tokyo 2021, had considered the idea of ​​not showing up in Japan because he did not know what it would be like to play without a crowd.
In the pre-Olympic press conference he said: "The absence of the crowd was a problem, yes. In the end, however, I thought that the Olympics are always the Olympics. And I'm happy I decided to come. I don't speak to Steffi Graf regularly, but I'd be happy to hear how she did it!
I have the utmost respect for you, for the indelible mark you have left in the history of tennis I did not think it possible that someone could even approach her business, instead it has become realistic, it has become my goal.
Di Steffi has always inspired me with her mentality: I hope to have it too and use it in my next mission. At the risk of being trivial, I want to face one day at a time and one opponent at a time. This is the approach I need to have, because in the past I didn't have it and I got hurt.
I am motivated to pursue history, I have worked hard to make it happen. But I prefer to talk about it if I have to. For now I want to focus on the present. We will be on the central, the public will be missing. I feed on the energy of the fans, which is one of the reasons why I continue to play even at 34 years-old.
Olympics are a unique experience, they make me feel part of a team, the Serbian team. I go to the pitch alone, but the energy of the other athletes, the one I breathe every night at the Village, gives me wings and pushes me to give my best.
There are neither Roger Federer nor Rafa Nadal: I haven't done many tournaments without them, it's strange not to see them. But there are still some of the best players in the world in this tournament. Luckily I'll tackle them later, so now I can focus on playing my way.
I feel good, physically and mentally: I had the best possible season, I arrive at this appointment with the best possible preparation: I hope to have a good tournament, also because on the field of the Games I have already won a tournament, even if it was not so hot."
