Novak Djokovic hoping to find 'best level' as he highlights Olympic, French Open ambitions

ByJames Walker-Roberts

Published 23/04/2024 at 08:41 GMT

Novak Djokovic was in Madrid on Monday as he won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award. The world No. 1 spoke at the event about missing the Madrid Open and his plans to play his "best" tennis at the French Open and Olympic Games. Djokovic also spoke about his ambitions for the Games and why the 2024 season has been a "bit different" for him so far.

Novak Djokovic says it is the "highest honour" to represent your country at the Olympic Games as he reiterated his goal to play his "best tennis" in Paris.

Djokovic has played just four tournaments this year and is yet to win a title.

He is not playing the Madrid Open, which starts this week, but is expected to return at the Italian Open as he builds up to the French Open and Wimbledon.

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Soon after Wimbledon comes the Olympics, where Djokovic is yet to win a gold medal in four previous appearances.

Speaking to Eurosport at the Laureus World Sports Awards, where he was named Sportsman of the Year, Djokovic said: "We already have a very busy schedule and with the Olympics, it's even more congested but it's the highest honour representing your country at the Olympic Games.

"It's the oldest most important sports event in the history of sport so I am looking forward to it."

He later added to reporters: "At the end of the day, who knows if I will get another chance to play at the Olympic Games? They only come every four years.

"I said recently that I really wanted to play at least until the LA Olympic Games [in 2028], but you never know at this stage, what can happen or how far I can go.

"I will try to use this chance as best as possible."

Djokovic, who will celebrate his 37th birthday next month, won a bronze medal at Beijing 2008 but has not added to his medal collection since.

At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, he was beaten in crushing fashion as his hopes of a Golden Slam were ended in the semi-finals by Alexander Zverev.

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Looking ahead to his fifth Games, he said: "If I didn't think [a gold medal] was possible, I probably wouldn't be playing the Olympic Games. You have to believe that everything is possible in life.

"The Olympics Games are the oldest and most prestigious sporting event in the history of sport. It's a huge honour to represent Serbia at the Olympic Games.

"I hope I can be healthy and fit."

The tennis event at the Olympics will be played at Roland-Garros, where Djokovic has won the French Open three times.

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But the signs so far this year are that Djokovic might need to find another level if he is to win gold for Serbia.

He hasn't won a title in 2024 and started his clay season with defeat to Casper Ruud in the Monte Carlo semi-finals.

"This year has been a bit different for me," he admitted.

"I haven't yet found my best level of tennis and I hope I will at Roland-Garros."

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