Nole’s biggest goal in 2024 was definitely the Paris Olympics
Novak Djokovic’s biggest goal in 2024 was definitely the Paris Olympics, which were not played on his most beloved surface. The former world number 1 struggled for most of this season and did not achieve his usual results – especially in the Grand Slam tournaments – but gave his best in the Olympic tournament finally winning the gold medal.
The 24 times Grand Slam champion won the Olympic tournament without losing a set and beating along the run very formidable opponents such as Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Lorenzo Musetti and especially Carlos Alcaraz in the final. The young Spaniard was a big favourite to win the gold medal – especially after his stunning Wimbledon Championships‘ triumph – but he had to give up on a deluxe version of Nole.
By winning the gold medal, the Serbian legend took a weight off her shoulders and really completed the puzzle. The current world number 2 has chosen to skip the Montreal and Cincinnati Masters 1000 to recharge and be ready for the 2024 US Open, but this strategy has not worked.
Novak appeared tired in New York, never found the right pace during the tournament and was eliminated already in the third round by a great Alexei Popyrin. For the second time since 2011, the 37-year-old from Belgrade will finish a season without ever winning a Grand Slam title.
The Serbian legend has struggled in NY
The feeling is that it will not be easy for Djokovic to find motivation after winning the last title he was missing. In addition, the brilliant rise of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will make it much more difficult for him to win the most prestigious titles.
Former US tennis player Jimmy Connors spoke in his latest podcast “Advantage Connors” about the situation of Novak Djokovic who was eliminated in the third round of the US Open by the Australian Alexei Popyrin. The Serbian tennis player seemed far from his best condition and certainly tested physically and mentally by success at the Paris Olympics, where he won gold in singles beating Carlos Alcaraz in the final. But Connors doesn’t believe that Djokovic’s career is at its end. Quite the opposite. Time inevitably passes for everyone but “Djokovic will still be among us, you can’t exclude him from the tournament favorites he plays” is in fact the synthesis of the eight-time US Slam champion’s thought.
“The former World No.1 – analyzes Connors – has gone from grass to earth with all the enthusiasm and pressure to win the Olympic gold. Then to get back on the concrete he did not prepare playing any game. Once the young people feel that you have lost that aura around you, continue his reasoning Connors, many of them think you are more vulnerable. That you are not as unbeatable as you were once. This is a bit what happened recently with the defeat of Novak against Popyrin in the third round New York.
If you get older, you’ll have to train harder, work harder, make sacrifices. And despite everything, sometimes it is difficult for a guy like Djokovic, at 37 years old, to maintain the same intensity week after week. But, it is the conclusion of the reasoning of Connors, I do not think we can still bury him, he is wrong who is already burying the Serbian legend“.
Djokovic has lost his aura of invincibility
Nole has certainly lost his aura of invincibility in 2024 and the numerous defeats suffered this year have increased the confidence of his opponents. The former world number 1 must be ready for next year, which will probably be the last of his legendary career. Novak has expressed a desire to continue playing for a long time, but this may not be true if he can no longer win the big titles.
Speaking with Sky Sports, former ATP ace and top analyst Tim Henman commented on Djokovic’s current status: “He didn’t play very well and by his own admission, it was some of his worst tennis. The serve looked completely off, it didn’t have any rhythm. I think he served more double faults in that match than any other Grand Slam. If you don’t play well, you are going to come unstuck.
I was surprised by the performance because we are so used to seeing Nole produce masterclasses, but we said that this year with the French Open, Wimbledon, Olympics and US Open so close something had to give. It’s easy to focus on the physical demands, but it was the mental and emotional demands as well. Djokovic was flat out there, but this is not the last we have seen of him, for sure.”