Novak Djokovic fulfilled his longtime dream of winning the gold medal for his country, Serbia, at the Olympics, but an admission he made after shocked many.
The Serbian is arguably the greatest tennis player who ever lived. Winning the gold medal was the missing piece he needed to cement his legacy as the greatest ever, but on a personal note, it is something he has dreamed of since he was little.
As a deeply patriotic person, Djokovic always gook great pride in playing for his country. Representing Serbia worldwide is what he cherished most about his tennis career, and it doesn't get more prestigious than the Olympic Games.
Djokovic had multiple attempts at winning the gold but failed, and it remained one thing he dreamed about the most. He finally managed to win that gold medal this year at the Paris Olympics, and he did it in style by beating the number one favorite and arguably the best player in the world, Carlos Alcaraz.
That was a stunning performance by the Serbian, who emotionally celebrated the win, underlining how much it meant to him. As surprising as that victory was, the Serbian surprised people more with his admission after the match, saying he desires to play at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
To put that into context, the Serbian would be 41 then, and while it's not impossible for him to play at those Olympics, generally speaking, it does surprise a bit that he still desires to do so.
"Look, I still, I want to play in Los Angeles. I enjoy playing for my country in Olympic Games particularly and Davis Cup. It’s something that, being part of a team..."
"He’s [coach Viktor Troicki] making fun of my calendar goals, playing in Los Angeles. I don’t know if he’s laughing because he thinks it’s unrealistic or he’s like, okay, another four years with this guy."
It's not as unrealistic as some people think because it is possible if he remains healthy as he has so far. It does surprise, though, because Djokovic has admitted in the past that he has thought about retiring from the sport because he wants to spend more time with his family, and his career doesn't allow that too much.
Perhaps the Serbian wants to take the Andy Murray route and possibly retire at the Olympic Games, which would be fitting, but it's still unrealistic. Still, his intentions should be doubted, as Djokovic's career is a statement of what he can do while most people keep doubting him.
He might just find himself at the Olympics in four years, and he might even win them. Nobody expected him to win the gold this year either, especially not after the knee surgery, and he has been able to do that.
0 Comments