“I was shocked by their level”

Diana Shnaider was one of the great revelations of the 2024 season on the WTA circuit. The 20-year-old Russian player reached the top 15 and won four titles and impressed with her consistency.

In an interview for Championat, she discusses several subjects and in particular the gold medal won by Novak Djokovic at the Olympic Games.

The Serb finally won the only big title missing from his already well-stocked list of achievements.

For Shnaider, there is no doubt, this is one of the defining moments of the year 2024 in Tennis.

“I was very happy that Novak won the Olympics, but at the same time I felt really sorry for Carlos Alcaraz.

I saw how this meeting was particularly close to his heart.

Despite everything, I know that he will have the chance to win this title several times, he will have the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games several times in the future.

At the same time, I was really happy for Djokovic, because I understood that it was his last Olympic Games, his last chance, and that he gave 100% there.

He would have been ready to do anything to get these Olympic Games,” she said.

Diana Shnaider then admitted to having been amazed by the performance of the two players in this final under the Parisian clay sun at Roland-Garros.

“Of course I was impressed. Additionally, Djokovic had injured his knee a month before. It was incredible to see how comfortable Novak was on court when there was a match with so much at stake.

Mirra (Andreeva) and I sat in the stands and watched the match. I was shocked by their level. There was nothing to complain about from start to finish. »