I’mEven a legendary champion like Novak Djokovic, who has rewritten the history of tennis in every possible way, is capable of feeling the pressure of the most important events. Until a few years ago it seemed impossible that a Robot like the Ser could run into something similar, but a mix of events, such as physical problems, disappointing results, perhaps lack of motivation and – inexorably – advancing age, have led to this eventuality. We all knew that sooner or later it would happen, even Nole himself knew it.
The Serbian’s season has so far been devoid of many successes and satisfactions, also due to advancing age and the resulting physical ailments, but it has brought with it the title that he has most chased during his career: the gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games.
Код куће је најлепше.
Хвала вам на подршци 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Lq9wxYjxiA— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) September 14, 2024
The Serb himself confirmed it, a few months after this great joy, reiterated the importance of this victory for him, underlining how in Paris he felt less pressure than at the US Open.
“The Olympics only take place every four years. I came to these Olympics without having won a title before, I had an operation on my knee, I’m 37 years old, I beat an opponent who just beat me at Wimbledon. All this makes it so special. The greatest series of emotions of my career, it’s hard to describe in words,” said the proud former number 1 in an interview for the Serbian national broadcaster RTS.
An Olympic gold medal that came after many defeats and bitter defeats, one step away from the medals: “I lost to Nadal in a hard-fought semi-final in Beijing, then I lost two more semi-finals at the Olympics, I also lost the battles for third place, these were among the hardest defeats of my career.”
When you hear about pressure from players like Djokovic it seems paradoxical, after the incredible number of trophies won in his career, but at the US Open, the Serbian champion admitted to having felt it.
“In the run-up to the final in Paris, I didn’t lose a set, I beat Nadal at his home – even if he wasn’t at his best, but still beating him in Paris is something huge. I felt the energy and the support from home too, so the added pressure was lower than usual. In New York, for example, I felt that I wasn’t myself on the court, that I wasn’t well prepared, so I felt more pressure in the run-up to each match than before the final at the Olympics.
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