Novak Djokovic winning a 25th Grand Slam ‘doesn’t feel too far away’, says former British No 1
Former British No 1 Laura Robson has declared that Novak Djokovic winning a 25th Grand Slam title “doesn’t feel too far away” ahead of the 2024 US Open.
Robson questioned, however, whether Djokovic will even play the US Open as she feels it will be challenging to return so soon after his triumph at the Paris Olympics.
Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the 2024 Olympics at Stade Roland Garros to claim his maiden gold medal earlier this month.
The 37-year-old tennis legend withdrew from ATP Masters 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati following his emotional victory in Paris.
The Serbian will be chasing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title at the US Open, where he won his most recent major last year.
Djokovic can secure a record-equalling fifth men’s title at the New York major if he defends his crown. The 2024 US Open will run from August 26 to September 8.
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Novak Djokovic ‘really happy he has got a gold medal over Roger Federer’, claims former world No 1
Speaking to Sky Sports, Robson hailed Djokovic’s achievement of winning his first Olympic gold medal.
“It’s incredible the way Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz can play tennis,” said the Brit.
“The gold medal meant so much to them both. All that build-up and pressure for Djokovic knowing Paris was probably his last Olympics and a final chance at gold.
“To play that well against someone he had lost to just a couple of weeks before. Someone who has just won two Grand Slams, who is having an incredible summer – I found it really inspiring!
“How he was so motivated to win this one thing that he had never completed in tennis, so the reaction said it all in the end.
“It was such a moment seeing Djokovic and Alcaraz crying at the same time on opposite ends of the court. There was so much going on, happy tears and sad tears all at once.
“That was kind of the theme for the entire week. Almost everyone that came through the mixed zone had a tear in their eye at some point!”
The former world No 27 continued: “The 25th Grand Slam doesn’t feel too far away for Novak, but he’s on a well-earned break and I think we will need to see if he even wants to show up at the US Open…
“He’s achieved something that he’s described as the pinnacle of his sporting career, so I think it’s quite hard to reset after that.
“We know he can win it! We absolutely know he can do it, but whether he wants to come back so soon is the challenge. How can anything live up to that moment of winning the medal you’ve always wanted?
“Then to see his homecoming in Serbia and to see the reaction that he’s had from the public. It will be tough to arrive in New York raring to go!”
