By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday August 4, 2024
Asked after winning the Olympic gold medal in men’s singles on Sunday, whether or not the triumph was the missing piece of the puzzle, Novak Djokovic said some surprising words.
“Yes it is,” he said.
Djokovic has adamantly stated in recent years that he wants to hang around and play as long as he can compete for and win the biggest titles. He demonstrated unequivocally on Sunday why he is not only the GOAT of men’s tennis, but the best player of the moment as well, despite his 37 years and surgically repaired knee.
Which is why it was a little odd to hear him talk as if he sees the Olympic victory as a type of completion for his legacy. No, he didn’t say that he isn’t hungry to win more, and in reality, he was put on the spot by the interviewer, in a moment of complete elation after having achieved a long sought after goal for himself and his country.
Nevertheless it was a bit surprising to hear him explain how he felt. The hungriest, most ambitious player to ever play the sport, satisfied? For a day, at least... and it felt so good.
“I’m telling myself always that I am enough,” he said. “Because I can be very self-critical. I don’t know. That’s one of the biggest internal battles I keep on fighting with myself. That I feel like I haven’t done enough or been enough in my life on and off the court.
“So it’s a big lesson for me. I’m super grateful for the blessing to win a historic gold medal for my country. To complete the golden slam. To complete all the records.”
Asked again at the end of the interview, “Is it enough?”
He said: “I think so.”
Time will tell.