Tennis - Paris 2024 - Novak Djokovic achieves the Olympics dream : "The greatest achievement of my career"
Titré - a minima - à deux reprises lors des tournois majeurs (Grands Chelems, Masters 1000, ATP Finals), Novak Djokovic a, ce dimanche, remporté la médaille d'or aux Jeux olympiques, complétant ainsi son immense palmarès. Il a dominé Carlos Alcaraz, vainqueur à Roland-Garros et Wimbledon (7-6(3), 7-6(2)). Un accomplissement pour celui qui, à 37 ans, n'a plus grand chose à aller chercher. Outre de nouvelles émotions, pour lesquelles il continuera à jouer. Jusqu'à Los Angeles ? "Je ne sais pas, souriait le Serbe, en conférence de presse. Il aurait alors 41 ans, rien que ça.
Photo : @ATPTour / @ITFTennis
Photo : @ATPTour / @ITFTennis
Category
🥇
SportTranscription
00:00More special feeling? I thought that 2012 opening ceremony in London, carrying the flag for my country at the opening ceremony at the Olympic Games is the best feeling that an athlete could have.
00:18Until today, this kind of supersedes everything that I imagined, that hoped that I could experience and that I could feel.
00:31You know, I was saying that representing my country has been always a greatest priority and honor for me, whether it's Olympic Games or Davis Cup or anywhere that I can carry proudly the Serbian flag is something that really drives me and motivates me like nothing else.
00:50And the fact that I won the bronze in the first Olympic Games and ever since then failed to win the medal and played three out of four Olympic Games in semifinals and couldn't overcome that obstacle.
01:07And then now at age 37, you know, with a 21-year-old that is probably the best player in the world right now, winning the Roland Garros and winning back-to-back and playing incredible tennis.
01:22When I take everything in consideration, this probably is the biggest sporting success I've ever had in my career.
01:31I know that. Congratulations.
01:35I mean, that level that you brought out, certainly the best you've played in a really long time, where exactly, I mean, did it come from?
01:44Did you know you had it from the first shots during the warm-up?
01:49And what was it like to be going through that and seeing him matching you game for game and pushing you to the edge and knowing that this latest sort of slip-up would probably cost you the match?
02:02Well, you know, this year has been a little bit strange for me, obviously, not winning a title after many years of at least winning one title up to the kind of mid-season section of the calendar.
02:17But, you know, I was saying that Grand Slam and Olympic Games are the biggest goal for this season and particularly Olympic Games, knowing that could be my last chance, my last wink at the gold medal.
02:34So I did everything I possibly can to prepare myself for this period of Roland-Garros Wimbledon and Olympic Games in the best possible way to raise form when it needs to be raised and basically be at the peak of my abilities.
02:55Then, you know, obviously the injury that occurred here in Roland-Garros sidetracked me a little bit, but I still managed to play Wimbledon and wasn't maybe expecting so much from that tournament, but I played finals, which was a big success.
03:14I was dominated in the finals by Alcázar, who was a far better player, but then coming into these Olympic Games, I said that I feel like I'm a different player comparing to the player I was in Wimbledon in terms of how I move, in terms of how I play, in terms of how I feel.
03:34And Wimbledon was super important for me because it brought that confidence in the movement for the knee itself and also confidence on my game, basically.
03:47So I didn't need too much motivation because motivation is already there by default representing my country at Olympic Games. There is no greater motivation and inspiration than that.
04:00So I was ready for this tournament and I didn't drop a set the entire tournament. I knew already in the first opening two rounds the way I was playing that this is my chance.
04:12If it's ever going to be, it's going to be now.
04:16When I qualified for the finals, I felt a big relief because that's the hurdle I wasn't able to surpass in the past.
04:24And I did celebrate like I won the tournament, but of course I won it both.
04:30I knew that it's going to take the highest mountain to climb at the moment, probably the highest one, playing Alcázar, who is in incredible form.
04:41I think the fact that I lost as easy as I did against him in the finals of Wimbledon actually kind of worked in my favor because I knew that I could not do worse than that.
04:54The way I played and the way I felt against him on the court. So I knew that it's going to be a different match.
05:02And as for the match, I think it was fair that both sets were decided in the tiebreaker.
05:09We both played on a very high level, I think, almost three hours for two sets.
05:15I don't think I've ever played maybe a few times in my life on such a high level intensely for three hours on two sets.
05:23I cannot even imagine if I lost that second set what would be in the third.
05:28But credit to him, congratulations to him for a great tournament, great fighting spirit.
05:35He's an amazing guy, I get along very well with him and have tremendous respect for him as a player.
05:41He showed once again great fighting spirit even though he lost an hour and a half per set.
05:46The tiebreaker still kept going, kept winning, kept pushing himself.
05:50I did too. So we really went toe-to-toe and that's why I didn't really want to get carried away with the fact
05:58that I'm leading in the second set tiebreaker or 3-2, 4-2, 5-2, whatever it was.
06:03I was just trying to focus on every next point because I did have a lot of chances also during those couple sets
06:10to break him but he was always finding his best game when it mattered.
06:14And then when I saw that last forehand pass him, the intensity of the emotion that I felt at that moment
06:23was just something I never felt in the best way.
06:27Congratulations. You've referenced this throughout the week but I'm curious if you could put into words
06:36how difficult the pursuit of this gold medal has been and what the toughest moments were
06:41and if you ever actually doubted at one point that it would happen for you.
06:46There are always doubts. Absolutely I had doubts.
06:51But the belief and the conviction that I can make it is formed by my doubts.
06:58It always has been the case throughout my career.
07:01And I knew that it's going to happen, it was just a matter of when it's going to happen.
07:05Olympic Games come every four years so the opportunity to win gold for a country is very rare.
07:16And I knew the fact that I'm 37 and I don't know how many more chances I'll have.
07:21I knew everything and of course I have to deal with that internally.
07:26I have to try to silence all the noise around me and distractions and focus on what needs to be done on the court.
07:37And that's the biggest battle, to win.
07:41And I'm super thrilled that I managed to do it here in a way that I did it against a guy who is, as I said,
07:50the best in the world at the moment in this game.
07:55I'm just over the moon honestly.
08:00Everything that I felt in that moment when I won really surpassed everything I thought or hoped it was going to be.
08:08And as I said in the beginning, I thought that carrying the flag in the opening ceremony is the best feeling ever.
08:15Until I experienced this today and being on that court with Serbian flag raising and singing Serbian anthem and carrying the gold around my neck is just...
08:33I think nothing can beat that really in terms of professional sport.
08:39Novak, my colleague spoke a couple of days ago with your former coach Marjan Vajda before semifinal.
08:47And Marjan said that he has no doubt you're going to become Olympic champion.
08:51And he obviously believed in you this week, but he said even if you didn't win it this week,
08:57that you would go to Los Angeles and win it as a 41-year-old, maybe your reaction to his quote.
09:02And he's right that now it's obviously hypothetical, but this was such a huge goal for you that you would try it until you get it done.
09:10Of course. That's why Marjan said it, because he knows me very well.
09:14And knows me as good as my parents know me.
09:17Maros is always my family member, is one of the dearest people in my life.
09:23And so it's true. I would be still... I mean, look, I still want to play in Los Angeles.
09:33I enjoy playing for my country in Olympic games, particularly in Davis Cup.
09:40It's something that, you know, being part of the team, you know...
09:48He's making fun of my calendar goals of playing in Los Angeles.
09:53I don't know if he's laughing because he thinks it's unrealistic, or he's laughing because he's like,
09:58okay, another four years with this guy.
10:01But nevertheless, big hugs to Maros. I love him.
10:06And he was right.
10:10And Robert.
10:12This is Rony from Bangladesh. Huge, huge congratulations, obviously.
10:16Now that you have won your long-desired Olympic gold, do you feel that your career is complete?
10:21Or anything else is yet to be achieved?
10:30Yes and no. I mean, yes, it's complete, because I completed all the achievements with this gold medal.
10:36But no, because, you know, I love this sport. I don't play it only to win the tournament.
10:43I play it because I really love competition. I love to drive every day, every week.
10:49Training my body, perfecting my game, improving myself, still at this age.
10:55This sport has given me so much in my life.
10:59I mean, I try to give back to the sport with dedication, primarily.
11:07And the sacrifice that I put on the court every single day when nobody's watching.
11:12And I do it as hard as any young player out there in the world right now.
11:18I promise you that. I do it as hard, maybe even harder than anybody else.
11:22And so these kind of successes are not coincidences, you know.
11:25They come as a result of incredible effort from my side and, of course, people who are around.
11:33So, yeah, I don't know about the future, to be honest.
11:37I really want to be in the present moment, celebrate.
11:41You know, I worked very hard, sacrificed a lot to be in this moment.
11:46It was a long journey, many, many years of dreaming to be holding the gold medal.
11:51So now it's about happiness, joy and celebration.
11:55I know, Beck.
11:5718 years ago you won your first tournament in the Netherlands, where you're hanging.
12:02You're sitting here with the gold medal on your neck.
12:05Is it really something that the circle is now fulfilled?
12:09Is it clear?
12:11Yeah, I remember very well my first trophy of ATP Tour in the Netherlands.
12:16My trophy was an iPod.
12:18So it's a little bit different feeling when you hold the gold medal around your neck and iPod.
12:24But nevertheless, it was a special iPod because it is the first trophy, professional tennis,
12:32at the ATP level for me.
12:35And an incredible journey, really.
12:38I was reflecting on it recently with my wife, who was there.
12:43My girlfriend, who was there.
12:45I was reflecting on it recently with my wife, who was there.
12:48My girlfriend, who just started dating around that time.
12:51And Marianne Weida, who we just mentioned, who was my coach at that point.
12:55So they were two persons that were with me to celebrate that win.
12:59And of course, the Netherlands, for that reason, always have a special place in my heart.
13:05Yeah, it's quite a journey to come to where I am right now.
13:10And I'll be happy about it.
13:13Congratulations. Nadal said to us earlier this week that an Olympic gold medal is the hardest thing to win.
13:20Do you agree with that? And have you also seen that he's congratulated you?
13:25No, I have not seen, honestly. I haven't taken my phone at all.
13:30I've been with you guys and your colleagues for the last hour.
13:33And I thank him for congratulating me.
13:39It means a lot coming from a great champion and a legend of our sport.
13:43And my greatest rival, of course.
13:51Considering my journey and my trajectory that I described recently to all of you guys,
13:59I would then probably agree.
14:02For me, in my case, this was the most difficult obstacle to overcome and win.
14:12I don't know. I mean, it's hard to say whether an Olympic tournament is harder to win than a Grand Slam.
14:21I mean, it's hard to say because it happens in many Olympic Games.
14:25Not everyone is playing, like it was back here with Sinner going out and so forth.
14:32But the fact that it's coming every four years is so rare.
14:37And the paramount pressure that you feel representing your country,
14:41expectations that all the people have from you, regardless of everything you have achieved in your individual career.
14:48Olympics are different, but you have to bring a medal.
14:51And so, yeah, that's why it's super hard to achieve this.
14:59I'm curious, what did you say in the middle of the court when you pointed to the sky and shouted something?
15:06Very emotional?
15:08Glory to God. Glory to God.
15:10I was expressing my gratitude to the Almighty Superior
15:17who gave me the faith and the opportunity to be where I am.
15:22And also, after achieving everything in tennis, are you thinking of something outside of tennis?
15:27Maybe the President of Serbia or something?
15:33My friends, I'm happy with where I am.
15:40And I'll just try to be in the moment and enjoy what I've experienced.
15:45We have time for one last question.
15:48I'm from India. I won 24 slams, every scub, and now a gold medal.
15:56Where does this gold medal stand in your achievements?
16:00I think I answered that question before, but I'm happy to repeat that it stands out as the biggest sporting achievement that I have.
16:09Because of all the circumstances and all the things along the journey that I had to face, encounter, experience and go through.
16:22The kind of failures in the other Olympic Games where I lost semifinals and wasn't able to bring a medal for many years to my country.
16:31That was catching up with you, and it was building the pressure even more and more.
16:35And that's why where I am at this moment in time in my career, in my life, it stands out as the highest of the highest.