Why Winning 2024 Paris Olympics Mattered So Much To Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic wanted to win the Olympic Games, and he wanted it badly, and at the 2024 Paris Olympics, he finally did it.

It wouldn't be incorrect to say that Djokovic is the most accomplished, and therefore, according to many, the greatest tennis player of all-time. He has won everything, including 24 Grand Slam titles, and countless other titles around the ATP Tour.

He won every single major, at least three times, he won the ATP Finals, seven times, he won every ATP Masters 1000 tournament, at least twice, and he won the Davis Cup with Serbia, which is one of his most cherished achievements.

Djokovic is patriot. He loves representing his country and putting Serbia on the map. He grew up during difficult times for the country, making his love for it so much stronger. Therefore, it was not a surprise that winning an Olympic gold medal was one of his biggest career goals.

He almost managed to reach that goal in his first participation, when, as the third seed, he reached the semi-finals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but lost to Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals, 4-6, 6-1, 4-6.

Four years later, the Serbian played in the semi-finals once again, this time at the 2012 London Olympics. Like in Beijing, he was once again beaten, losing to Andy Murray, 5-7, 5-7.

Four more years later, and Djokovic recorded one of the most painful losses of his tennis career. He lost in the first round of the 2016 Rio Olympics as the top seed, when Juan Martin Del Potro beat him 7-6(4), 7-6(2). After the match, Djokovic couldn't hold back tears.

He wanted to win the Olympic Games, but once again, he was stopped. In 2021, when the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics were held, he was the best player in the world, by a mile.

Djokovic won three out of four Grand Slam titles that year and dominated like in his peak years. Actually, those were his peak years. Miraculously, he lost in the semi-finals, once again, despite winning the first set 6-1 against Alexander Zverev, and completely destroying everyone until then.

He had his last chance in 2024 at the Paris Olympics. And he didn't disappoint. Djokovic played one of the best tournaments of his tennis career, given the circumstances, and incredibly bested Carlos Alcaraz in the final to win the Olympics gold medal.

It was an emotional match for him, and it meant a lot to win the gold medal for his country. Serbia gave him a lot, and he wanted to give some of it back.

"When the last shot went past him, that was the only moment I actually thought I could win the match. I mean I believed that I could win, but to actually win it, because he keeps on coming back. He keeps on asking me to play my best tennis."

"I don’t know what to say. I’m still in shock, honestly. I put my heart, my soul, my body, my family, my everything on the line to win Olympic gold at age 37. I finally did it."

But it wasn't only because of his connection to Serbia that he wanted to win so much. Djokovic is an athlete, an extremely competitive person, and while he won every - single - thing possible to win in tennis, the Olympic gold medal just kept running away from him.

Winning the 2024 Paris Olympics meant that Djokovic achieved everything he could have achieved. He called it the last missing piece in his puzzle. He completed tennis.