Djokovic won his 24th Grand Slam title a week and a half ago at the US Open in New York. Nadal has 22, the Swiss Roger Federer has 20. Since his French Open triumph this year, Djokovic has already been the sole number one among men, and in Flushing Meadows he has drawn level with the previously solo leading Australian Margaret Court. In January 2024, the 36-year-old Serb will have his first chance to become the sole number one in the cross-gender major statistics at the Australian Open.
“He has better numbers than mine, that is undisputed,” said Nadal, summing up his thoughts on the matter. “That’s the truth. Everything else is a matter of taste, inspiration and feelings that you like one more than the other.” Nadal does not want to use his absence due to injury problems as an excuse for his lack of the title.
APA/AFP/Getty Images/Clive Brunskill Djokovic has drawn level with record Grand Slam winner Margaret Court with her triumph at the US Open
That’s just part of the sport, and Djokovic didn’t play all the majors either, said the 37-year-old. “So I congratulate him on everything he has achieved and it doesn’t frustrate me.” Nadal added that he was very happy with what he had achieved. He currently sees Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz as Djokovic’s only real rival. “And that even though he is still very young. Until recently he was number one.”
Olympic gold is a big dream for Djokovic
Djokovic himself isn’t just looking at the Grand Slams for the rest of his career. Olympic gold is what the 36-year-old is still missing. His coach Goran Ivanisevic recently said that the 2028 games were still an issue for his then 41-year-old protégé, but for now it is of course about the Paris games. Olympic victory is also one of Djokovic’s main goals for 2024. He won bronze in Beijing in 2008. After that, he came away empty-handed three times in a row.
“I want to play in Paris and hope that I will be physically and mentally ready,” Djokovic said last week at the Davis Cup tournament in Valencia. “It will be a very challenging schedule next year – Roland Garros on clay, Wimbledon on grass, the Olympics on clay and then the US Open and the tournaments before that on hard court,” said Djokovic, referring to the numerous surface changes from spring to late summer.
Of course, competing at the Olympics is a given for him. “This is one of the most important competitions in the history of sport. There you represent your country and the feeling of being part of it is a great honor.”
2023-09-20 19:02:55
#Tennis #Djokovic #Nadal
