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Novak Djokovic described his Olympic gold medal triumph on Sunday as “in all probability” his “greatest sporting success” and revealed he could defend the title on the 2028 Los Angeles Video games when he can be 41. Djokovic, competing in his fifth Video games, got here by means of 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2) towards Carlos Alcaraz in an enthralling remaining at Roland Garros so as to add Olympic gold to his 24 Grand Slam triumphs.
“That is in all probability the largest sporting success I’ve ever had and probably the most particular feeling,” stated the 37-year-old Serb.
“I assumed carrying the flag on the opening ceremony for my nation on the 2012 Olympics was the perfect feeling an athlete may have till right now.
“Now on the age of 37 and going through a 21-year-old who might be the perfect participant on this planet proper now, profitable Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back, I can say that that is in all probability 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 every little thing I imagined and hoped I may expertise and really feel. The very fact I received the Bronze within the first Olympics & ever since didn’t win a medal… that is in all probability the largest sporting success I’ve had in my profession.”
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 4, 2024
Earlier than defeating Alcaraz on Sunday, his finest efficiency on the Olympics had been in 2008 at Beijing when he received bronze. He had additionally misplaced three semi-finals.
Now he needs to maintain enjoying and has not dominated out making an attempt to win back-to-back golds at Los Angeles in 4 years’ time.
“I wish to play in Los Angeles, I get pleasure from enjoying 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 Courtroom 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 kids.
Novak Djokovic crying as he cannot consider
Congratulations to @DjokerNole, for lastly reaching the gold medal on your nation & you’ve gotten accomplished not solely tennis but additionally my childhood pic.twitter.com/E8e2HmY173
— Shane Gupta (@Shanegupta22) August 4, 2024
“We nearly performed three hours, the ultimate shot was the one second after I was certain I may win the match,” stated Djokovic.
His title on Sunday was the 99th of his profession and first of 2024 after a troublesome season through which Jannik Sinner succeeded him as Australian Open champion and ultimately took his world primary spot.
Alcaraz then relieved him of the French Open earlier than denying him the possibility to equal Roger Federer’s file of eight Wimbledon titles.
A knee harm suffered on the French Open required surgical procedure and his participation within the semi-finals of the Olympics regarded briefly at risk when he appeared to irritate the issue.
“I knew that this could possibly be my final likelihood of a gold medal,” added Djokovic at his post-final press convention nonetheless draped in his nation’s flag and along with his medal hanging proudly round his neck.
“I did every little thing I presumably may to organize myself for this era. The harm sidetracked me a little bit 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 approach shedding closely to Alcaraz at Wimbledon in all probability labored in my favour as I knew I could not play any worse than that.”
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