Renowned tennis player Novak Djokovic is preparing for the 2024 season with a monumental goal that could undoubtedly shape the legacy of his illustrious career. He is chasing the elusive Golden Slam, encompassing the conquest of five major titles in a single calendar year, including four majors and the Paris Olympics.
Despite Djokovic’s remarkable track record, concerns and insights from tennis experts like Alex Corretja hint at potential hurdles in his pursuit of this rare accomplishment. The upcoming year offers a distinctive opportunity for Djokovic, but age might not be in his favor, as he is set to turn 37 midway through next year.
Despite an outstanding 2023 season at the age of 36, during which he clinched three of the four majors, Djokovic has yet to secure even a calendar slam or an Olympic gold in his professional career. Combining these two feats becomes an even more formidable challenge at 37. Aging affects natural recovery, and four of these five big tournaments are stacked within three weeks of each other, adding to the complexity of the task.
“I’m sure that Novak (Djokovic) is going to keep on winning Slam, but it would be a little bit surprising see him doing the Golden Slam. Because even if he improves his game so much, he’s getting older.”
Alex Corretja 💬, to @eurosport 👇https://t.co/Nr6G3tZQTB
— Tennis Majors (@Tennis_Majors) December 20, 2023
An additional critical factor contributing to the daunting nature of this task is the emergence of a younger set of players who have gained invaluable experience facing Djokovic and even defeating him on the grand stage. Daniil Medvedev in the US Open finals, Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon finals, and Jannik Sinner in the Davis Cup semifinals know precisely what it takes to overcome Djokovic.
While the pursuit of the Golden Slam presents its challenges, the Australian Open serves as the inaugural battleground where Djokovic seeks to leave an indelible mark. The tennis world eagerly awaits to witness whether the 36-year-old legend can defy the odds and add another epic achievement to his already illustrious career—creating history with an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam.
Novak Djokovic’s tryst for an elusive Olympic gold
Novak Djokovic entered the Olympic Games with a glimmer of success in 2008, securing a bronze medal in Beijing. However, the subsequent Olympic years—2012, 2016, and 2021—saw the Serbian tennis maestro unable to build on that initial accomplishment. Despite his dominance on the ATP Tour, the elusive Olympic gold has remained beyond Djokovic’s grasp.
In 2012, at the London Olympics, Novak Djokovic fell short of reaching the podium. Despite being the top-ranked player in the world at that time, he couldn’t advance past the semifinals, losing to eventual gold medalist Andy Murray. Djokovic then faced Juan Martín del Potro in the bronze medal match and, unfortunately, was defeated, leaving him without a medal in the singles competition.
In 2016, at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Djokovic suffered a surprising defeat in the first round, losing to Juan Martín del Potro, the same opponent who had thwarted his medal ambitions in 2012. This unexpected early exit marked a significant disappointment for him.
What a win 😳
🇩🇪 Alexander Zverev defeats Novak Djokovic 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 to reach the #Tokyo2020 final!#Olympics #Tennis pic.twitter.com/q8KsicRv5d
— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 30, 2021
In 2021, he was on course to win not only an Olympic gold but also a Golden Slam. He had already won the first three Grand Slams of the year and was in imperious form during the Olympic Games as well, going one set and one breakup in his semifinal clash with Alexander Zverev. However, in a stunning twist of fate, Novak lost the match in three grueling sets to dash his hopes of a gold medal and an elusive Golden Slam!