"I was grateful to Carlos Alcaraz for letting me win": Novak Djokovic discloses his message to Spaniard; picks youngster to win multiple Olympic golds
Novak Djokovic joined forces with tennis legend John McEnroe in a doubles match against Carlos Alcaraz and Andre Agassi, at the Stars of the Open charity event held before the US Open. After the match, Djokovic shared the message he had conveyed to Alcaraz following his victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Djokovic had endured a title-less season until the 2024 Paris Olympics. But he beat Matthew Ebden, Rafael Nadal, Dominik Koepfer, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Lorenzo Musetti in Paris, advancing to the gold medal match against Alcaraz. There, he delivered a gritty performance to win 7-6(3), 7-6(2) and secure his first Olympic gold medal.
The triumph made Djokovic the fifth player to achieve a Career Golden Slam, after Nadal, Agassi, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams.
Recalling their Paris Olympics match during an on-court interview at the Stars of the Open charity event, Djokovic revealed that he thanked Alcaraz for "letting" him win the gold medal. The 37-year-old also predicted a bright future for Alcaraz, suggesting he might win several Olympic gold medals.
“I told Carlos at the net when we finished the final that I was very grateful to him for letting me win the gold. 😂 He’s probably going to have like 3 gold medals before he retires,” Djokovic said.
The duo of Djokovic and McEnroe defeated Alcaraz and Agassi 10-8 in the exhibition match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Novak Djokovic on winning gold at 2024 Paris Olympics
After defeating Carlos Alcaraz at the Paris Olympics, Novak Djokovic said that while he had doubts about himself, his faith in winning the gold remained strong.
"Doubts always exist, but faith and the belief that I can achieve my goals are always stronger. I was aware that this was my last chance to win an Olympic gold, so I had to focus fully on my goal. Nothing will ever surpass seeing myself on the podium listening to the Serbian anthem with the flag raised," Djokovic said while speaking to the press in Paris.
Djokovic will next compete at the 2024 US Open as the defending champion and the second seed. Although he hasn't claimed a tour title this season, his hard-court record remains impeccable, boasting 71 titles and 14 Grand Slam victories, making him a top favorite for the New York Major.