Novak Djokovic won the Olympic gold at Paris 2024 and has stated that defending it is the biggest source of motivation for him at this stage of his career.
Novak Djokovic has stated that defending his Olympic gold medal at the Los Angeles Games is the “only thing” on his mind right now. Djokovic completed a Career Golden Slam, just the third man to do so in men’s singles apart from Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal, when he beat Carlos Alcaraz in the gold medal match of the Paris Olympics last year.
The 38-year-old told Croatian football manager Slaven Bilic in an interview that the Olympic gold stands out in his overflowing list of achievements. “The only thing on my mind right now, and the only thing that motivates me, is the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles,” said Djokovic.
“And it’s interesting when we talk about these achievements and the Olympics that stand out and redemption, the only thing that I have in my head, which gives me motivation, is the Olympics of 2028 in Los Angeles. And playing for the national team and Grand Slams. But not even the Grand Slams, not as much as the Olympics,” he said.
Djokovic is the most succesfull men’s tennis player of all time having been ranked No.1 in the ATP rankings for 428 weeks across 13 years, both of which are records. He has won 24 Grand Slam titles, the more for any male singles player. He is the only players in singles to have won all of the top tier tennis titles over the course of his career – all the Grand Slams, the Masters tournaments and the year-end Championships.
Djokovic also admitted that above everything else, though, it is the love for the sport that keeps him going. While his great rivals Roger Federer and Nadal have both retired, Djokovic is still ranked fifth in the world. “Above all, for me, it’s love and passion for the sport,” he declared. “I love tennis, and I still love picking up a racket. The kid in me who fell in love with tennis is still there; I still feel that connection.
“If I didn’t have that passion and desire to compete, I wouldn’t continue, but I still love going out on the court and winning with a racket in my hands. That fire is still inside me,” said ~Djokovic~ .