Novak Djokovic: After the consummation, the legend continues

At Paris 2024, Djokovic finally fulfilled his dream – at the end of his career, he filled the last void in the honour book with an Olympic gold medal in men's singles. The 37-year-old Serbian king defeated his opponent, Spanish superstar Alcaraz, who was 16 years his junior, in a two-set tie-break in the final, and the image of his knees and two fingers pointing to the sky became one of the most moving moments in Olympic history.

However, just when the world thought he would retire, Djokovic unexpectedly announced: "My story is not over yet. His long-time sponsor, Thierry Guibert, CEO of French sports brand Crocodile, recently revealed that the tennis legend aims to compete until at least Los Angeles 2028. He still retains his hunger for victory, retiring? It's still early. ”

Djokovic's quest for Olympic gold has continued almost his entire career. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he won the bronze medal as a fledgling; London 2012 in the semi-finals; Rio 2016 first-round exit; In Tokyo 2021, he was defeated by Zverev in the semi-finals, and the next day he tearfully withdrew from the mixed doubles bronze medal match after losing to Spaniard Busta, admitting that he was "heartbroken".

After four Olympic trials, Paris 2024 may be the last gift of fate, with Djokovic performing to near-perfection on Roland Garros' clay courts – the land where he has won the French Open three times. In the final, he staged a suffocating duel with his opponent Alcaraz, who was 16 years younger than him, to hundreds of millions of viewers around the world. At the award ceremony, he stared at the gold medal for a long time, and then wrote on social media: "I have waited 16 years for this moment. ”

The Olympic gold medal was once seen as the "final piece of the puzzle" in Djokovic's career, but where did his motivation come from? The answer may lie in his words: "Tennis is my life, and numbers have never been my goal." Despite having 24 Grand Slam trophies, an unprecedented 428 weeks of world No. 1 and the Golden Slam, he is still eager to push the envelope.

Djokovic's career has long gone beyond simply winning or losing. From a teenager in Belgrade who practiced in the midst of war when he was younger, to defining the "Big Three Era" with Federer and Nadal, to continuing to rewrite history as a "lone wanderer", he has pushed the limits of tennis every step of the way.

"As long as I can stay competitive, I'll keep playing," Djokovic said after the 2024 Australian Open. Those goals could include surpassing Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam titles, winning another Wimbledon title to tie Federer's myth of eight titles, and winning another Olympic gold medal for his beloved country, Serbia. In a recent interview with Slaven Bilić, Djokovic gave the answer: "The only thing that gives me motivation right now is Los Angeles 2028. ”

Since becoming the face of the Crocodile brand in 2017, Djokovic's collaboration with the French brand has gone beyond business to become a symbol of each other's achievements. After renewing his contract in 2021 until 2025, Gibel made it clear: "We believe he will continue to play in crocodiles. That trust stems from Djokovic's unrivalled professionalism – even in low times, such as missing the Australian Open in 2022 due to a vaccine scandal, he managed to win everything back with his performances.

Age may be the cruelest gauge in sport, but Djokovic has repeatedly proven that it can be subverted. In 2021, he won the Australian Open with a torn abdominal muscle; When he won gold in Paris, his running stats were still comparable to those of a 25-year-old. His secret is not only scientific physical management, but also his paranoid ability to interpret the game – "he always finds a way to win when it matters most", Nadal once commented.

Djokovic no longer needs to prove himself with a championship, but his persistence has given "greatness" a new dimension: not only to reap the glory, but also to constantly push the boundaries of the sport. In Los Angeles 2028, if he does stand on the Olympic stage, whether he wins or loses, it will be the ultimate interpretation of sportsmanship - because a true legend never sets limits for himself. (Source: Tennis Home Author: Mei)