Novak Djokovic recently added a significant chapter to the annals of tennis by winning his first singles gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in ParisThis extraordinary result marks an important milestone in his impressive career and puts him in an exclusive list of tennis players who have won all four Grand Slam titles as well as an Olympic gold medal.
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A triumph over time and rivals
For former doubles world champion Rennae Stubbs, Djokovic’s success is a significant moment in tennis history. On the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, she highlighted that Djokovic is now in a select group of tennis players who have achieved this rare feat.
“Novak has now achieved what Roger Federer never managed – a gold medal in singles. That is something he is certainly very happy about,” said Stubbs. Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz in the final on Court Philippe-Chatrier to win the gold medal.
This was his first singles gold medal after winning bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Djokovic is now the third player after Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal to achieve the so-called Career Golden Slam – a remarkable achievement that demonstrates not only his tennis skills but also his determination and single-mindedness.
Federer and the missed singles gold medal
Despite his success at the Olympic Games, Roger Federer, who won a gold medal in doubles in 2008, was unable to repeat that success in singles. His best singles performance came at the 2012 London Games, where he won the silver medal after losing to Andy Murray in the final.
This means Federer is the only member of the Big Four without a singles gold medal. Sam Querrey, a former ATP world No. 11, praised Djokovic for achieving his stated goal.
“It was amazing to see Novak, who stressed all year that a gold medal was his main goal, achieve that goal at the Olympics,” Querrey explained. He added that it was impressive how Djokovic fought his way to the Games and ultimately triumphed despite a rather average year, living up to the Serb’s high standards.
Djokovic’s victory in Paris rounds off an already outstanding career and cements his place in tennis history in a way that few have achieved.
