Tennis legend Martina Navratilova believes the timing of the Olympic Games “cost” Novak Djokovic the Calendar Grand Slam in 2021.

The former world No 1 feels it is “emotionally and physically exhausting” for players to have “another massive event in the middle of the summer” and expects this to impact this year’s US Open.

The tennis event at the 2024 Paris Olympics will begin on the clay courts of Roland Garros on July 27, just two weeks after the conclusion of Wimbledon.

Djokovic came within one win of achieving a Calendar Grand Slam in 2021, losing to Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final after winning the other three Majors in a stellar season.

Prior to the US Open, Djokovic had missed out on a medal at the Tokyo Olympics as he chased an elusive gold medal to keep his bid for a Golden Slam alive.

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Djokovic looked depleted at the US Open after a draining and ultimately painful campaign in Tokyo, which ended with defeat to Pablo Carreno Busta in the bronze medal match after a semi-final loss to Alexander Zverev.

The great Serb also lost in the semi-finals of the mixed doubles event with partner Nina Stojanovic, before pulling out of the bronze medal match.

Steffi Graf won all four Majors and an Olympic gold in an astonishing 1988 season, making her the only player in tennis history to accomplish a Golden Slam.

Rod Laver is the only man to win all four Grand Slam titles in the same year in the Open Era, accomplishing the remarkable feat in 1969.

Speaking on Tennis Channel, 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Navratilova discussed the challenges an Olympic year poses for the top contenders in tennis.

“Well, it’s easier to go back on clay, which you just played on a few weeks ago, than to go on the hard courts,” explained the Czech-American. “That’s when the body starts giving in, because the hard courts are much harder on the body.

“So I think surface-wise, I don’t think the players will have an issue with it. It’s just the emotional and physical toll of playing an extra massive event in the middle of the summer.

“Basically two weeks after Wimbledon is over, Olympics start and the top players who have played here (Wimbledon), really have got such a short turnaround and then you’re there. And it’s emotionally exhausting and physically exhausting. And then they go on the hard courts.

“I think they’ll be really, you know, tongues hanging out at the US Open. I think they’ll be okay for the Olympics, but how much energy do you have?

“I think it cost Novak Djokovic the Grand Slam three years ago and now they are doing it again. It’s going to be tough. More than the surface, it’s just the emotional and mental stuff that gets you down.”

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