Paris 2024 gold medallist Novak Djokovic aims for LA 2028: “I would love to play”
It seemed that Paris 2024 was Novak Djokovic’s last shot at Olympic gold.
The Serb certainly took it, playing one of the best matches of his outstanding career on Sunday (4 August) to defeat Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in the tennis men’s singles gold medal match.
While Djokovic basked in golden glory, he was already setting his sights on the next challenge: the Olympic Games LA 2028.
He told the media (via Forbes) after his victorious final, “It’s true, I would love to play in Los Angeles in 2028. I want to play in Los Angeles, I enjoy playing for my country in the Olympic Games, in the Davis Cup.”
Novak Djokovic sets sights on LA after winning elusive gold
Djokovic will be 41-years-old by the time the next Olympic Games come round in the United States - the same age his great rival Roger Federer of Switzerland was when he retired.
The Serbian star has competed in five Olympic Games throughout his career, winning bronze at Beijing 2008 and the long-awaited gold on the iconic Court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland Garros.
With 24 Grand Slam titles to his name and, at last, Olympic gold, Djokovic has completed singles tennis by winning every major honour available.
However, it speaks of his drive and winning mentality that he is even considering returning to the Olympic stage in four years’ time, especially that it was on his mind with the gold medal feeling still raw.
Novak Djokovic secures Olympic gold at last.
Djokovic’s Parisian road to glory
Djokovic defeated Alcaraz in a near three-hour thriller at Paris 2024, winning both sets in tiebreaks after an enticing gold medal match.
In fact, the 37-year-old did not drop a single set en route to becoming Olympic champion, where he overcame two-time Olympic champion Rafael Nadal of Spain, Wimbledon 2024 semi-finalist Lorenzo Musetti and three-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz on his journey to gold.
By doing so, Djokovic became the fifth singles player in tennis history to win the Career ‘Golden Slam’, where a player has won all four Grand Slam titles and Olympic gold.
He was overcome with emotion when he hit the winner that secured him the final title he was chasing, and although that appeared to be his last dance, no one can rule out the legendary Djokovic.