Andy Murray reveals Novak Djokovic Olympics hope after his retirement in Paris
Andy Murray has expressed his hope that Novak Djokovic will win the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics after playing the final match of his career.
The British legend recognised how much representing Serbia means to Djokovic and declared it “would be great if he could make it” and become an Olympic champion.
Djokovic is competing in his fifth Olympic Games in Paris and is seeking a first gold medal, having achieved his best result on his debut in Beijing in 2008 when he claimed a bronze.
The Serbian has won all four Grand Slam titles, the ATP Finals and all nine Masters 1000 tournaments on multiple occasions, meaning an Olympic gold is the only big prize missing from his unrivalled trophy collection.
Murray also played at his fifth Olympics in Paris and the two-time gold medallist retired from tennis after he and Dan Evans were beaten in the quarter-finals of the men’s doubles event by Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz.
Olympics Tennis News
Following the final match of his illustrious career, Murray — an Olympic champion in 2012 and 2016 — backed Djokovic to secure an elusive gold medal.
“It clearly means a lot to him. When he plays for Serbia in Davis Cup, or the matches he played in the Olympic semi-finals, you can see that side coming out from him. It would be great if he could make it,” the three-time major winner said in his press conference.
“My biggest matches were mostly against Djokovic. The finals in Australia, we played finals in all the Grand Slams, we played in the Olympics… Novak is someone I’ve known since I was 11 years old.”
Djokovic has progressed to the Olympic semi-finals for the fourth time in Paris, but there are major concerns over his knee ahead of his last four clash with Lorenzo Musetti.
The 37-year-old received a medical timeout and took painkillers after hurting his knee early in the second set of his 6-3, 7-6(3) quarter-final victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas on Thursday on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Despite showing obvious signs of discomfort, the 24-time Grand Slam champion recovered from a 0-4 deficit and saved three set points to improbably steal the second set.
The injury is hugely worrying given Djokovic tore the meniscus in the same knee on the same court in the fourth round of the French Open less than two months ago.
