Novak Djokovic refuses to let the GOAT era die
Novak Djokovic has it all but he doesn't have an Olympic gold medal, yet.
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Novak Djokovic believes that as long as he continues to carry the torch, tennis’ greatest era of all time can stretch on just a little bit longer.
The former world No 1 says that retirement is the furtherest thing from his mind.
No stopping Novak Djokovic
Djokovic will bid for a first Olympic gold medal in Paris which some feel would complete his career collection of titles and be enough for him to give up the game.
The Serbian has seen his great rivals fade and ease into retirement but he isn’t ready to go quietly.
He might get one last rerun of arguably the greatest rivarly of all time with Rafael Nadal in the second round if the Spaniard comes through injury concerns.
“I don’t have retirement close in my mind, to be honest,’ Djokovic said ahead of his Olympic singles first-round match against Australia’s Matthew Ebden.
“Even though I know a lot of people would love me to retire so this era is done. But I think as long as there’s at least one of us left competing, the era is still going.
“Of course there’s a change of generations. You have Alcaraz and [Jannik] Sinner, currently they’re our two best players in the world, deservedly.
“They’re playing at a very high level particularly this year. They’re very young and they are going to carry this sport in the future.
“But I’ve been present for the shift of many generations in the last 15 years and I like to see that.”
Farewell to Andy Murray
Djokovic felt that it was a shame that Andy Murray wouldn’t get a singles swansong in Paris.
“I heard the news about Andy,’ Djokovic said. “I hope that he will have the best possible farewell in his last competitive match here in the Olympics. He’s a legend of our sport. He’s been an incredibly important player for tennis globally.
“Nadal of course, the same. Even more. All the results and achievements he’s had particularly in this city, at Roland-Garros. Nadal still didn’t say when his last tournament will be so hopefully for the sake of the sport he can keep going.’
“I think it’s also great that I’m still able to play, Nadal, other veterans like [Stan] Wawrinka that have won multiple Grand Slams and made a big name in the sport.
“I think that also adds more significance and attention to our sport and I think it’s a nice fine balance.
“Of course, the end is closer than the beginning, I know that, for me personally as well. But I still enjoy competition and I’ll keep going until I don’t enjoy it anymore.”
Who will win Tennis gold at Paris 2024?
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