Novak Djokovic references Golden Slam as he sends ominous 2024 message

Tennis News
Novak Djokovic at the 2023 ATP Finals

Novak Djokovic raised the prospect of winning all four Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal in 2024 when discussing how he can better his incredible 2023 season. 

The world No 1 stressed that he always has “the highest ambitions and goals” and that this will be the same next year after winning the 2023 ATP Finals.

Djokovic downed world No 4 Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-3 in the ATP Finals final on Sunday to add a seventh title of a remarkable 2023 campaign. He won four of the five biggest tournaments this year – the Majors and the year-end championships – and was also a runner-up at Wimbledon.

The Serbian’s triumph over the 22-year-old Italian saw him claim a record seventh ATP Finals crown to surpass his great rival Roger Federer.

The 36-year-old’s win over Holger Rune in his opening match of the event ensured he would end the season as ATP world No 1 for a record-extending eighth time.

With 2024 being an Olympic year, Djokovic could become the first man to achieve a Golden Slam by winning all four Majors and an Olympic gold in the same year.

In 2021, Djokovic won the first three Grand Slams of the year, before falling in the semi-finals at the Tokyo Games to end his Golden Slam bid, and then the US Open final as he fell one win short of a Calendar Slam.

Speaking in his post-tournament press conference in Turin, Djokovic was asked how he keeps himself motivated and if it is possible to improve on this year.

“Well, you can win four Slams and Olympic gold (smiling). Let’s see. I mean, I have always the highest ambitions and goals. That’s not going to be different for the next year, that’s for sure,” said the Serbian.

“The drive that I have is still there. My body has been serving me well, listening to me well. I have a great team of people around me. Motivation, especially for the biggest tournaments in sport, is still present. It still inspires me to keep going.

“In the end of the day, people see you performing in the big tournaments, but they don’t see all the weeks and months of dedicated day-to-day, week-to-week work, trying to build your form so that you can peak where you want to peak.

“For me, obviously those are Grand Slams and World Tour Finals, and next year hopefully also Olympic Games. The mindset is the same. I’ll keep going. I don’t know whether I’m going to have as good of a year next year, but I’m going to keep this kind of, yeah, freshness of mind and in a way motivation to do that.”

Djokovic highlighted the Olympics as a primary target, but recognised the fact that it will be played on clay at Roland Garros after Wimbledon presents a schedule challenge.

“It is definitely one of the major goals for next year, other than Grand Slams. It’s going to be very congested schedule with going from the slowest to the fastest surface in sport back to the slowest,” the 24-time Grand Slam champion explained.

“Clay, grass, clay, then hard court. Obviously that’s a very demanding, challenging stretch of the year. I’m going to have to speak with my team to see how we can plan out our preparations, training, so that I’m able to play my best tennis where I want to.”

READ MORE: Tennis greats predict how many Grand Slam titles Novak Djokovic will win

Novak Djokovic

Latest