Novak Djokovic, despite a surprising early exit at the US Open 2024, has capped off a memorable year by clinching his first Olympic gold medal in Paris. This achievement has brought him immense satisfaction and marked a significant milestone in his storied career.

In a recent interview with RTS, Djokovic reflected on the profound impact of his Olympic victory. He described it as “the greatest emotion of my career,” emphasizing the special significance of this win. The Serbian tennis star had faced several near-misses in previous Olympic Games, including losses to Rafael Nadal in Beijing 2008, Andy Murray in London 2012, Juan Martin del Potro in Rio 2016, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo 2020.

Djokovic noted the challenges leading up to the Paris Olympics, including a knee surgery and a season without titles. “The Olympics are held only every four years,” he said. “I arrived at this edition without having won even one title in the season, I had knee surgery, I am 37 years old, and I managed to beat an opponent who had just defeated me at Wimbledon. All this makes it special. It’s hard to describe in words.”

The significance of the Olympics for Djokovic was underscored by his previous struggles and his dedication to the sport. He admitted to feeling immense pressure after his injury at Roland Garros but felt a sense of relief and readiness as he progressed to the Paris 2024 Games. “Tennis is not the classic Olympic sport compared to other disciplines,” Djokovic explained. “I have always followed the Olympics, especially our Serbian athletes, but I really started to feel their importance and weight after participating for the first time.”

Djokovic’s triumph in Paris stands in contrast to his performance at the US Open, where he was knocked out in the third round by Australia’s Alexei Popyrin. This loss, a 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 defeat, marked Djokovic’s earliest exit from a Grand Slam tournament since the 2017 Australian Open.

Despite the setback at the US Open, Djokovic’s Olympic success has been a highlight of his year, reaffirming his legacy in tennis and his resilience in overcoming personal and professional challenges. His emotional response to winning the gold medal reveals the deep personal significance this achievement holds for him, adding another illustrious chapter to his illustrious career.