‘This probably is the biggest sporting success I’ve ever had’ – Emotional Djokovic wins Olympic gold
Tennis legend Novak Djokovic completed a famous career Golden Slam on Sunday when he won at the Olympics and then claimed it was the greatest achievement of his storied career.
![Gold medal winner Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses for a photo during the medal ceremony for the Men Singles of the Tennis competitions in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games](https://www.sportingpost.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Djokovic-gold.jpg)
Gold medal winner Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses for a photo during the medal ceremony for the Men Singles of the Tennis competitions in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (Pic – EPA/Caroline Blumberg)
Djokovic, who was playing in his fifth Olympics finally claimed the gold as he beat world number three Carlos Alcaraz 7- 6 (3) 7- 6 (2) at Roland Garros.
In his previous four attempts at the Olympics, the best Djokovic had been able to manage was a bronze medal in 2008 in Beijing.
Speaking to the media after his win he said: “I won the bronze in my first Olympic Games and ever since then failed to win the medal and played three out of four Olympic Games in semi-finals and couldn’t overcome that obstacle.
“And now at age 37, with a 21-year-old that is probably the best player in the world right now, winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back and playing incredible tennis.
“When I take everything into consideration, this probably is the biggest sporting success I’ve ever had in my career.
“Until today I thought that carrying the Serbian flag at the 2012 opening ceremony in London is the best feeling that an athlete could have,” he said.
“This kind of supersedes everything that I imagined, that I hoped that I could experience and that I could feel.
“I was ready for this tournament and I didn’t drop a set the entire tournament.
“I knew in the opening two rounds the way I was playing that this is my chance. If it’s ever going to be, it’s going to be now.
“When I qualified for the finals, I felt a big relief because that’s the hurdle I wasn’t able to surpass. I did celebrate like I won the tournament. But of course, I wanted gold and I knew that I would have to climb the highest mountain there is at the moment, playing Alcaraz.
“I don’t think I’ve ever played, maybe a few times in my life, such a high level for three hours for only two sets. Credit to him, congratulations to him for a great tournament, great fighting spirit,” said Djokovic.