“It is probably the greatest sporting success I’ve had in my career”
After the match, Novak Djokovic spoke about the incomparable feeling of winning Olympic gold: “I thought the Opening Ceremony in London 2012, carrying the flag of my country, was the best feeling an athlete can have. I thought that until today. What happened surpasses everything I imagined.”
“Representing my country has always been my top priority and an honor for me — whether at the Olympic Games or anywhere I can proudly carry the Serbian flag, it’s something that truly motivates me more than anything else. When I take all this into consideration, this is probably the greatest sporting success I’ve had in my career.”
When asked if his career is complete, Djokovic spoke about his love for tennis: “Yes, it is complete because I achieved all the accomplishments with this gold medal. But, no, because I love this sport. I don’t play just to win. I play because I really love to compete. I love the motivation, every training day, perfecting my game, improving even at this age.”
“I am very blessed to have won practically everything there is in my sport, but this is something different. It surpasses everything I have ever felt on the court after winning major trophies. It’s an unbelievable joy.”
When asked if the Olympic Games are harder than a Grand Slam, Djokovic stated: “In my case, it was the hardest obstacle to overcome and win. It’s hard to say if an Olympic tournament is tougher to win than a Grand Slam. The fact that it happens every four years makes it rare. The enormous pressure you feel to represent your country, the expectations from everyone about you, regardless of what you’ve achieved in your career. The Olympic Games are different.”
Finally, he spoke about his five attempts to reach the top of the podium: “After Beijing, there were three Olympic Games where I was, if not the main contender, one of the favorites for gold, but I was unable to reach the finals. I lost three semifinals, so there was a lot of pressure. When I won the semifinals, I really felt a huge relief and I think that helped me come into this match a bit more confident. I didn’t feel like I had anything to lose.”