S’he is the most successful player in the history of men’s tennis with 24 grand slam successes ahead of his rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic has never triumphed at the Olympic Games. In four participations in the great mass of sport, the Serbian has never done better than a third place in Beijing in 2008. Among the three giants, only Nadal has been crowned at the Games.
Like football, tennis at the Olympics is considered secondary by most players on the ATP circuit. But there still remains the prestige and especially the last title that eludes Djokovic to end his career with all possible accomplishments.
“I’m looking forward to this deadline”
After winning the bronze medal in 2008 by beating James Blake in the small final, the native of Belgrade systematically failed in his quest for Olympic gold. In London in 2012, he was defeated by Andy Murray on the Wimbledon court in the semi-finals, before losing again to Juan Martin del Potro in the match for third place. Four years later, the Argentinian was once again his executioner by eliminating him in the first round in Rio de Janeiro. Finally, during the last Games played in Tokyo, Djokovic was eliminated in the semi-final by Alexandre Zverev, before failing in the quest for bronze against Pablo Carreno Busta.
This series of disillusionments contrasts with the Serbian’s stranglehold on the circuit for many years. However, Djokovic has assured it on several occasions: the Olympic Games are still among his objectives, and he intends to prove it in Paris. “I am looking forward to this deadline. Hopefully I can play healthy. It will be played on clay at Roland-Garros, and I know these courts well. So I hope the best Olympic result for me will happen there. » The Parisian clay has indeed already smiled on Djokovic, who has three successes near Porte d’Auteuil in 2016, 2021 and 2023.
A very delicate year 2024 for the moment
Before playing the Olympic tournament this summer, Djokovic has other big meetings coming up with Roland-Garros from May 20 to June 9, then Wimbledon from June 1.er to July 14. His start to 2024 is not the most encouraging: he has not won a single title. Beaten at the Australian Open by Sinner in the semi-final, the Serbian also failed in the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and Monte-Carlo. The world number one consequently announced changes in his staff with the departures of Goran Ivanisevic, his coach, and Marco Panichi, his physical trainer. Will he find his second wind this year with all these colossal deadlines?
READ ALSO Paris 2024 Olympic Games: French athletes qualified for the competitionIf the gold medal is the last coronation that he is missing, Djokovic has already accumulated three dizzying records in the world of tennis. The most successful player in grand slams, Masters 1000 and Masters, the Serbian knew how to pick up the pace when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal could no longer keep up. If the top step of the podium in Paris would put a definitive end to the debates about who is the “GOAT”, Djokovic is already, whatever happens, a sacred monster of tennis.
