Novak Djokovic described his Olympic gold medal triumph on Sunday as “most likely” his “greatest sporting success” and revealed he could defend the title on the 2028 Los Angeles Video games when he might be 41. Djokovic, competing in his fifth Video games, got here by way of 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2) towards Carlos Alcaraz in an enthralling last at Roland Garros so as to add Olympic gold to his 24 Grand Slam triumphs.
“That is most likely the largest sporting success I’ve ever had and probably the most particular feeling,” mentioned the 37-year-old Serb.
“I assumed carrying the flag on the opening ceremony for my nation on the 2012 Olympics was the most effective feeling an athlete might have till as we speak.
“Now on the age of 37 and going through a 21-year-old who might be the most effective participant on this planet proper now, successful Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back, I can say that that is most likely the largest sporting success I’ve ever had.”
Victory on Sunday allowed Djokovic to hitch Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Steffi Graf and the watching Serena Williams as the one gamers to win all 4 Grand Slam tournaments and Olympic singles gold, finishing the profession Golden Slam.
Novak Djokovic:
“This supersedes all the things I imagined and hoped I might expertise and really feel. The very fact I received the Bronze within the first Olympics & ever since didn’t win a medal… that is most likely the largest sporting success I’ve had in my profession.”
pic.twitter.com/RYAA7LOquq
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 4, 2024
Earlier than defeating Alcaraz on Sunday, his greatest efficiency on the Olympics had been in 2008 at Beijing when he received bronze. He had additionally misplaced three semi-finals.
Now he desires to maintain taking part in and has not dominated out making an attempt to win back-to-back golds at Los Angeles in 4 years’ time.
“I need to play in Los Angeles, I get pleasure from taking part in for my nation within the Olympic Video games, within the Davis Cup,” he added.
Djokovic is the oldest singles champion since tennis returned to the Olympics in 1988 and he shattered Alcaraz’s bid so as to add gold to the French Open and Wimbledon titles he has already pocketed this summer time.
– ‘My final likelihood’ –
An emotional Djokovic fell to his knees on Court docket Philippe Chatrier, the place he has received three French Opens, earlier than holding aloft the Serbian flag and clambering into the gamers’ field to embrace his spouse and youngsters.
Novak Djokovic crying as he cannot imagine
Congratulations to @DjokerNole, for lastly attaining the gold medal on your nation & you could have accomplished not solely tennis but in addition my childhood pic.twitter.com/E8e2HmY173
— Shane Gupta (@Shanegupta22) August 4, 2024
“We virtually performed three hours, the ultimate shot was the one second after I was positive I might win the match,” mentioned Djokovic.
His title on Sunday was the 99th of his profession and first of 2024 after a troublesome season wherein Jannik Sinner succeeded him as Australian Open champion and finally took his world primary spot.
Alcaraz then relieved him of the French Open earlier than denying him the possibility to equal Roger Federer’s document of eight Wimbledon titles.
A knee damage suffered on the French Open required surgical procedure and his participation within the semi-finals of the Olympics appeared briefly in peril when he appeared to worsen the issue.
“I knew that this might be my final likelihood of a gold medal,” added Djokovic at his post-final press convention nonetheless draped in his nation’s flag and together with his medal hanging proudly round his neck.
“I did all the things I presumably might to arrange myself for this era. The damage sidetracked me slightly bit. However coming into the Olympic Video games I felt like a special participant when it comes to how I moved, how I performed.
“In a method dropping closely to Alcaraz at Wimbledon most likely labored in my favour as I knew I could not play any worse than that.”
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