From the special reporter "Vijesti"
Novak Đoković's career has had meaning so far, it was certainly legendary and unrepeatable, and nothing would have changed if he stumbled once more in his quest for Olympic gold.
But the greats never give up, the winner of 24 Grand Slam titles became the Olympic champion at a moment when it was even less realistic than in the previous period - at the age of 37, when he had a heated new force of world tennis against him and when he knew that before him the last chance.
Djokovic succeeded, on Sunday at the "Filip Shatrije" stadium, he knocked down Carlos Alcaraz and disrupted his plans in order to complete the hat-trick - to tie the titles at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and OI in two months. The boy from Murcia still has a future - this is Novak's moment, it was also felt during the final day at Roland Garros when in the stands and around the stadium the desire for Djokovic's victory was present at every step.
- I am in shock from emotions and everything. I said even after the semi-final that I secured a medal and thus achieved my goal, but I wanted to go for gold. He also helped me prepare for the duel with Alkaras at Wimbledon and I wanted to go all or nothing - I hit forehands like Karlos knows how to do - Djokovic said.
The final was a fight to the last breath and was decided in two tie-breaks - in them, Djokovic allowed Carlitos a total of five points (7:3, 7:2), so that speaks volumes for how motivated and mentally prepared he was not to miss. another chance that came his way.
- I have a billion emotions and I am proud to have brought gold to Serbia. This is the greatest sporting success in my life - added Đoković.
Djokovic made his debut at the Olympic Games in 2008, when he reached the bronze medal - a few months after his first Grand Slam title (at the Australian Open), he arrived in Beijing as one of the favorites, and then he was eliminated in the semifinals by Rafael Nadal. Then, in the match for third place, he was better than the American James Blake.
Four years later, after a new title in Melbourne and the Roland Garros final, Andy Murray was better in the semifinals in London, and then he lost to Juan Martin del Potro for the bronze.
In 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, the Argentine shocked him at the start of the tournament, and Tokyo three years ago was especially stressful for Novak. He was again the favorite for the gold, everything went smoothly until the semi-finals, and then Aleksandar Zverev, who later reached the title, was defeated.
In the end, he didn't even win the bronze, but had to congratulate sixth seed Pablo Karenjo Busta, so from 2021 Djokovic subconsciously had Paris as his last chance to do what he hadn't been able to do since 2008. And the prize arrived, and that on the field at who, on June 3, in the round of XNUMX of Roland Garros, renewed his knee injury, due to which he had to give up the fight for the trophy won by Alkaras.
Now at "Shatrije" the roles were different than at Wimbledon, this time Alcaras was the one who had to applaud Novak...
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