Djokovic heaps praise on Osaka ahead of Tokyo Olympic Games: "A great champion of our sport"

Novak Djokovic will head into the Tokyo Olympic Games with all eyes on him in the men's draw as he tries to head towards a Golden Slam.

But in the women's draw, it will be Naomi Osaka in her first appearance since her Roland Garros withdrawal which came with press scrutiny due to her decision not to be involved in press conferences and the subsequent aftermath.

For the Serbian ace though, he heaped praise on Osaka in his pre Olympic Games press conference calling her a 'great champion'.

"Naomi Osaka is a great champion of our sport. And playing in her own country, without a crowd, obviously, it's not ideal for her … But it is what it is," Djokovic, told reporters in Tokyo on Thursday.

"She and Kei Nishikori carry a lot of responsibility and weight on their shoulders," Djokovic added on Osaka and Nishikori. "But [Osaka] has quite a lot of experience playing at the highest level, so I don't think you guys [the press] are going to cause a lot of trouble for her."