Novak Djokovic has won almost everything in his career. Only one success is still missing – and is the Serb’s big goal for 2024. The rest of the industry will have to keep waiting
Replacement of the guard? Not with Novak Djokovic. Even after an outstanding tennis season with three Grand Slam titles and victory at the ATP Finals, the world number one’s hunger for success is far from satisfied.
Immediately after his demonstration of power in the final in Turin against crowd favorite Jannik Sinner, Djokovic formulated his goals for the coming year
Olympics as a big goal
“You can win four Grand Slam tournaments and gold at the Olympics,” replied the 36-year-old Serb when asked what motivates him for the coming season after this super year.
Djokovic’s main focus is on the Olympic Games in Paris. Olympic gold is the only major success he is still missing in his impressive career. The Serbian won bronze in Beijing in 2008, after which he went without a medal in London, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo. In Tokyo two years ago, Djokovic lost in the semi-finals to the eventual Olympic champion Alexander Zverev.
“They are definitely one of the big goals, just like the four Grand Slams,” said Djokovic with a view to the Olympics in the French capital. “It’s going to be a very busy calendar and a challenging schedule in terms of switching from the slowest surface to the fastest and then back to the slowest,” said Djokovic.
The French Open on clay is scheduled for the end of May/beginning of June, followed by Wimbledon on grass at the beginning of July. Around two weeks later, the Olympic tennis tournament begins, which will once again be held on clay at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris. “It will be a very challenging phase,” said Djokovic, who still can’t get enough of titles and trophies despite all his successes. “I always have the highest ambitions and goals. Next year will be no different,” said the world number one. It sounded like a threat to the rest of the tour.
Attack repelled for now
Djokovic fended off the attack from the younger generation around Sinner, Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz and the young Danish star Holger Rune, who continues to be coached by Boris Becker, in Turin in remarkable fashion. After losing to the Italian Sinner in three sets in the preliminary round, the record winner of Grand Slam tournaments was back to his best on the final weekend.
“When the real Novak Djokovic steps onto the court, nobody can keep up with him at the moment,” said his coach Goran Ivanisevic. Even Sinner, who had no chance, had to acknowledge this without envy. “The match showed me where I still need to improve.” Djokovic had mercilessly exposed the 22-year-old’s weaknesses. “When they’re on court against me, I want them to know that they have to play their best tennis to beat me,” said the industry leader.
Children as motivation
The Serbian was particularly inspired by the visit of his two children after the group stage. “I always wanted to play in front of my children when they are at an age where they understand what I do. I’m so happy to have two such angels,” said Djokovic, who hugged his two kids for a while after converting the match point.
The youngsters often have to take a back seat in Djokovic’s hunt for victories and records. And even now there is still no time for vacations and family. Because even this year, Djokovic still has a big goal: the Davis Cup. That’s why he went straight from Turin to Malaga in Spain, where the final round of the team competition is taking place this week. “This is a very important week for us as a team, for Serbia as a sporting nation,” said Djokovic, the insatiable tennis dominator.
