"Nothing will ever surpass seeing myself on the podium" - Novak Djokovic reflects on importance of winning Paris Olympics gold for Serbia
Novak Djokovic spoke on the significance of wininng an Olympic medal for his country. The Serb defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the final to become Olympic champion for the first time in his career.
Djokovic put in a gritty performance in the gold medal match to win 7-6(3), 7-6(2) and take a 4-3 head-to-head lead over Alcaraz. The 37-year-old became the fifth player to complete a career golden slam, the others beingRafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Serena Williams, and Steffi Graf. Additionally, he became the oldest tennis player to win an Olympic gold.
The World No. 2 attended a press conference following his emphatic triumph over Alcaraz, where he revealed that he knew this could be his last chance to win an Olympic gold, compelling him to focus on the opportunity.
"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," Djokovic said (Via Punto de Break).
He added that standing on the top of the podium, hearing the Serbian anthem, and seeing the flag raised were unmatched moments in his career.
"Nothing will ever surpass seeing myself on the podium listening to the Serbian anthem with the flag raised," he added.
"Tennis means a lot to me": Novak Djokovic after winning gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics
In the press conference, Djokovic also talked about his love for tennis, nothing that he continuously strives to improve.
"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 ( Via Punto de Break).
The 37-year-old added that he will try to give back what the sport has given him.
"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," he added.
Djokovic will now shift his focus to the ongoing hard-court season, leading up to the 2024 US Open. He will enter the tournament as the defending champion and will aim to capture his 25th Grand Slam title. The New York Major begins on Monday, August 26.