Why Novak Djokovic’s Final Olympics Play Could Hasten His Retirement

Novak Djokovic has posted a clip online of himself looking enviously at his Olympic medals before folding his hands in prayer in a bid to end his long wait for gold at Paris 2024.

There has been much discussion about how important the Olympics are for tennis players who have just finished Wimbledon and are already looking forward to the US Open.

Still, Djokovic has left little doubt that he is motivated to win the big prize in Paris as he aims to join rivals Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray on the list of Olympic gold medalists.

Djokovic begins his fight for Olympic glory with a meeting with Matthew Ebden and a big clash with his old rival Nadal is possible in the second round.

Olympic gold is the only piece of silverware still missing from Djokovic’s impressive trophy cabinet, something he is aware of ahead of a “huge challenge” at Roland Garros.

“Winning gold is definitely one of the biggest dreams,” he said.

“Approaching the Olympics is always a huge challenge for me, because I put extra expectations and pressure on myself.

“They are familiar places, Roland Garros is a place where I played two months ago, so I know those courts very well. I hope I can perform at my best and reach the medal match.”

Djokovic’s passion for Olympic gold is driven by his desire to win the one trophy still missing from his remarkable tennis resume.

If he wins gold for Serbia in Paris, Djokovic will win every title he could wish for in tennis and that could be the reason to retire from the sport earlier.

Djokovic admitted he has struggled to find the motivation to compete in the sport’s lesser-known tournaments in recent months, and is now fully focused on adding to his record 24 Grand Slam titles and the Olympic gold he so desperately desires.

When Djokovic stands on the top step of the podium in Paris, questions will be raised about whether he still has the passion to fight for more in the sport. However, he has stressed that he is not thinking about retirement at the moment.

“I honestly don’t think about retiring right now, even though I know a lot of people would love it if I retired,” he added.

“I think as long as there’s only one of us left in the league, the era will continue.

“Of course there is a generational change, (Carlos) Alcaraz and (Jannik) Sinner, they are currently among the best in the world, and rightly so.

“They play at a very high level. They are very young and they are going to carry the sport into the future.

“I’ve seen the shift of many generations over the last 15 years, and I think it’s fun to see that, but I also think it’s great that I can still play.

“Of course the end is closer than the beginning, I know that. I still enjoy competing and I will continue until I don’t enjoy it anymore.”

Djokovic may not end his tennis career if he wins a gold medal in Paris in 2024, but it would mark one of the final challenges of his career.

If the first half of 2024 is any guide to what’s motivating Djokovic at this point in his career, he’ll need goals to fuel his drive. And once the Olympics are over, one of his last big goals will be gone, too.