"I have won all big tournaments, but I still love this sport" - Novak Djokovic admits he 'doesn't know what the future holds' after Olympic gold win
Novak Djokovic has laid bare that he is still very much in love with playing tennis. However, the Serb also hinted at uncertainty over his future in the sport. Djokovic's words came after he won the men's singles gold medal match 7-6(3), 7-6(2) against Carlos Alcaraz at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, August 4.
For probably the first time across their seven meetings, Djokovic was the underdog heading into a match against Alcaraz. The Spaniard had trounced the Serb just a few weeks ago in the final of the Wimbledon Championships and had also won the French Open earlier. Meanwhile, Djokovic had failed to win a single title this year before the Olympics.
However, in the gold medal match, the 24-time Major winner seemed to roll back the years, as the 37-year-old went stride for stride against the 21-year-old Alcaraz. Even when Alcaraz threatened to clinch a break, Djokovic stood firm and produced a combination of passionate, powerful and precise tennis. In the decisive second-set tiebreak, the Serb went all out and eventually sealed the gold medal with an absolute ripper of a forehand.
The World No. 2 later attended a press conference, where he talked about his persistent love for tennis, despite having won every prestigious men's singles title there is to win.
"I know that I have already won all the big tournaments, but I still love this sport, I love competing, training day after day, continuing to improve and taking care of my body," Djokovic said.
However, the Serb went on to cast doubt on the future of his playing career, before brushing the thought aside to focus on celebrating his maiden gold medal at the Olympics.
"Tennis means a lot to me and I do my best to give back to this sport everything it has given me. I don't know what the future holds, now is the time to celebrate," Djokovic added.
Novak Djokovic has expressed his desire to feature at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles
Djokovic will be 41 by the time the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics comes around. However, despite being fully aware of this eventuality, the Serb spoke of his desire to feature at the 2028 edition of the prestigious Games following his latest win over Alcaraz.
"I want to play in Los Angeles, I enjoy playing for my country in the Olympic Games, in the Davis Cup," Djokovic said.
Glory at the 2024 US Open would be the former World No. 1's next big goal this year. Djokovic heads into the year's final Major as the defending champion, having defeated Daniil Medvedev in the 2023 final to mark his 24th Major triumph in singles.