Djokovic’s victory at the Paris Olympics was one of the most exciting moments in this edition of the Games
Novak Djokovic’s victory at the Paris Olympics was one of the most exciting moments in this edition of the Games. The former world number 1 – who had shown up in Paris with so many doubts due to a disappointing season – played one of the best tournaments of his career and finally won the gold medal.
The Serbian champion showed an incredible performance against Carlos Alcaraz in the final, using his experience in the decisive moments of the match. Few people thought that Novak would be able to express such a high level of tennis, just weeks after being defeated by the Spaniard in the final of the Wimbledon Championships.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion has made one of his greatest dreams come true, which had always eluded him in past editions of the Olympics. The Olympic Games had almost become a curse for Nole, especially after the tremendous disappointments at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
The 37-year-old from Belgrade gave his all in Paris, winning the Olympic tournament without losing a set. It is unclear whether this victory will be an incentive to continue playing or if Novak might seriously consider retiring. For the moment, Djokovic has expressed his desire to continue playing to break other records.
Nole celebrated in Serbia
After winning the Paris Olympics, Novak Djokovic took a few days off from work and celebrated with his friends. The Serbian has decided to skip the Masters 1000 in Montreal and Cincinnati and will return directly to the court at the US Open at the end of August.
Meanwhile, Serbia has organized a big event in Belgrade where Nole showed his compatriots his gold medal. A creepy moment. “I have had the honour and pleasure of being on this special [City Hall] balcony several times in my career, but each time you surprise and inspire me more and more,” Djokovic told the crowd. “This is the most beautiful feeling that an athlete from Serbia can experience.”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion had pursued his dream of winning an Olympic gold medal for his entire career.
In the latest edition of his podcast, ATP legend Jimmy Connors paid tribute to Novak: “Probably this gold medal is as important to him as his first Wimbledon or US Open because he’s done the others, you know, he’s won every Grand Slam and many other tournaments. But winning the gold medal, for him, it’s like the icing on the cake. Almost three hours of play, 7-6(3), 7-6(2), the kind of tennis that they produced, what do you expect? Age is something that you can never beat and as much you try to fight it and as much as you try to figure out a way with your diet or with your training or whatever, numbers count in that.”
Djokovic will be among the favorites in NY
The former world number 1 will have to defend his title from last year’s US Open, but it won’t be easy to beat opponents like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev. If he played at the level shown at the Paris Olympics, the Serbian would have a good chance of winning another title in New York.
“The fact is that at this stage of my career, every Grand Slam final could be the last one,” Nole said in a recent interview. “So I think that I probably value these occasions and opportunities to win another Slam more than I did maybe 10 years ago because 10 years ago I felt like, ‘Hey, I still have quite a few years ahead of me.’ I don’t know how many I have ahead of me now, I don’t know how many of the years where I play four Slams in the season. I see every Grand Slam that I play right now as really a golden opportunity to make more history.
I had a childhood dream when I was seven, eight: I wanted to become the best player in the world and win a Wimbledon trophy. That was the only thing I wanted. When I realized that, I started to dream new dreams and set new objectives, new goals. I never imagined that I would be here talking about 24 Slams” – he added.
The first part of the season was not easy for Djokovic, who had not won a single title and had to undergo knee surgery during the French Open. Many believed that the Serb would not return to high levels, but Novak shocked the world for the umpteenth time. The 37-year-old from Belgrade is no longer interested in returning to the top of the ATP rankings, but he can never be underestimated in the most prestigious tournaments.
Novak Djokovic© Maja Hitij / Staff Getty Images Sport
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Source: Tampa Bay Times
