In his marvelous career, Novak Djokovic has pretty much everything there is to win in tennis, but one major prize has eluded him so far, but he'll get another shot at it next year.
That prize is an Olympic gold medal, which Djokovic has so desperately fought for since 2008 and has not managed to lay his hands on. His best achievement remains a bronze medal he won in Beijing during his first taste of the Olympic Games 15 years ago.
That remains Serbia's solitary medal in tennis competitions at the Olympics. Djokovic's place among the pantheon of greats is absolute, but he'll have the chance to plate his name in gold and become Serbia's first-ever tennis gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
He is currently the Olympic race leader, sitting in the top spot. Next year, Djokovic is not just eyeing an Olympic gold medal, but he is looking to scale even longer heights, which is to win a calendar Golden Slam. This is a one-of-akind-feat that can only be done once every four years.
The Golden Slam is the equivalent of winning each of the four majors and an Olympic gold medal, something that quite a few players have managed in tennis history. But only Steffi Graf (1988) has won a calendar Golden Slam - which is to win all four Grand Slams and Olympic gold in the same season.
That is the magnitude of Djokovic's task if he wants to emulate the legendary German. However, he is unfazed by that challenge and confidently admitted, while speaking to Marca, that he is capable of doing it provided he has a sound and healthy body and mind.
"Was it realistic to think I would win three of the four Grand Slams this year? Five years ago or even one or two years ago, I don't think people thought that was possible. I know myself and I know that if I feel good physically and mentally I'm capable of doing it."
"I don't want to sound disrespectful to my opponents. I know there are thousands of players fighting for the same goal, but I know who I am and I believe in myself."
It is not beyond the realms of possibility considering that Djokovic played in all four Grand Slam finals in 2023, and won three of them. He is the only man in tennis history to win three of the four Slams in a single season on four occasions.
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