Even a legendary champion like Novak Djokovic, who has rewritten the history of tennis in every possible way, is capable of feeling the pressure of the most important events. Until a few years ago it seemed impossible that a Robot like the Ser could run into something similar, but a mix of events, such as physical problems, disappointing results, perhaps lack of motivation and – inexorably – advancing age, have led to this eventuality. We all knew that sooner or later it would happen, even Nole himself knew it.
The Serbian’s season has so far been devoid of many successes and satisfactions, also due to advancing age and the resulting physical ailments, but it has brought with it the title that he has most chased during his career: the gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games.
The Serb himself confirmed it, a few months after this great joy, reiterated the importance of this victory for him, underlining how in Paris he felt less pressure than at the US Open.
“The Olympics only take place every four years. I came to these Olympics without having won a title before, I had an operation on my knee, I’m 37 years old, I beat an opponent who just beat me at Wimbledon. All this makes it so special. The greatest series of emotions of my career, it’s hard to describe in words,” said the proud former number 1 in an interview for the Serbian national broadcaster RTS.
An Olympic gold medal that came after many defeats and bitter defeats, one step away from the medals: “I lost to Nadal in a hard-fought semi-final in Beijing, then I lost two more semi-finals at the Olympics, I also lost the battles for third place, these were among the hardest defeats of my career.”
When you hear about pressure from players like Djokovic it seems paradoxical, after the incredible number of trophies won in his career, but at the US Open, the Serbian champion admitted to having felt it.
“In the run-up to the final in Paris, I didn’t lose a set, I beat Nadal at his home – even if he wasn’t at his best, but still beating him in Paris is something huge. I felt the energy and the support from home too, so the added pressure was lower than usual. In New York, for example, I felt that I wasn’t myself on the court, that I wasn’t well prepared, so I felt more pressure in the run-up to each match than before the final at the Olympics.
Just because of how I felt. Tennis is an individual sport: if you don’t have a solution on a certain day, it’s over, you’ve lost,” he analyzed.
The two semi-final defeats in Beijing 2008 and London 2012 against Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray; the bad KO with his friend Juan Martin del Potro in Rio de Janeiro 2016. And, when everything seemed done, the surprising comeback suffered by Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 2020.
History had always told of a Novak Djokovic in extreme difficulty at the Olympics. And yet, at the age of 37 and after surgery on the meniscus of his right knee, the Serbian champion managed to realize his greatest dream by playing a legendary final and winning the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“The main reason is the fact that I had the opportunity to represent Serbia again in a world sporting event, the most important one. The other reason is my Olympic career: I lost to Nadal in the semifinals in Beijing, then two more semifinals and the battles for third place. It was the greatest emotion of my career, it is difficult to describe it in words. The Olympics were my main goal. I was very worried after the knee injury I suffered at Roland Garros, but when I managed to play the final at Wimbledon, I felt relieved because I knew that I would be ready for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Tennis is not the classic Olympic sport compared to other disciplines. I have always followed the Olympics, especially our Serbian athletes, but I started to feel it really the importance and weight after participating for the first time. I will remember this for the rest of my life,” he added.
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