Novak Djokovic: I was 'overpowered' by Sam Querrey at Wimbledon

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Novak Djokovic graciously bowed out of his bid to win four grand slams in a calendar year but gave a hint of something being wrong after his shock Wimbledon exit to Sam Querrey.

The Serbian has been as close as there is to unbeatable for the best part of the last 18 months and arrived in London as the holder of all four men's grand slam titles.

So good has he been that it was considered a formality by many that he would be the finalist from the top half of the draw and, in all likelihood a showpiece opponent for Andy Murray.

That did not account for a meeting with Querrey, the big-serving American who had previously reached the fourth round of a grand slam on just three occasions.

Djokovic never looked at his best in a Court One clash severely hampered by rain, and when even an overnight delay at two sets down could not fire him up properly, it became clear that something was amiss.

He went on to lose 7-6 (8/6) 6-1 3-6 7-6 (7/5), and while full of praise for his conqueror - who sent down 31 aces - his refusal to speak about what may have been troubling him left more questions than it did answers.

"Congratulations to Sam, he played a terrific match," said Djokovic - who in revealing he would not face Great Britain in the Davis Cup later this month gave Murray another boost.

"He served very well, as he usually does. That part of his game was brutal today. Well done, he overpowered me."

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So unusual was Djokovic's submission that the media felt moved to probe for reasons as to why. He was asked about the rain - which delayed this match three times - playing on Court One instead of Centre and his general demeanour.

"I don't want to take anything out of victory from my opponent, I had my chances, served for the fourth set, led in the tie-break but wasn't feeling the ball as I wished," he said.

"It's not a place and time to talk about it, the opponent was playing at a high level and deserved to win."

Asked about the court, he said: "I'm more comfortable on Centre, because I've played 90 per cent of matches there. Naturally I am going to feel better on there."

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Asked again if there was something bothering him, and put to him that he had not looked himself during a morning practice, he said: "I don't want to talk about it, please respect that."

It was widely assumed that, having beaten Murray in the finals of the Australian and French Opens, the two would meet here too - with few tipping the Brit to beat him, so accustomed have fans and experts become to Djokovic's success.

"I don't think it (expectancy) played a big factor," he said. "I knew it was going to be very close.

"It's an amazing feeling to hold all four Grand Slams at the same time, but coming to Wimbledon I knew it wouldn't be easy. I re-motivated myself but my best wasn't good enough this year."

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