Can Djokovic Still Tie The Second Gold At The 2028 Olympics?

Novak Djokovic just won the Golden Slam after winning gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics (Instagram/@djokernole).

JAKARTA - Novak Djokovic has just won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the final with a score of 7-6(3) and 7-6(2).

The gold medal was Djokovic's first at the Olympics. The acquisition brought the 37-year-old to the list of Golden Slam singles, four Grand Slam trophies plus Olympic gold medals.

Victory at Roland Garros also ended Djokovic's title drought this year.

This year Djokovic is not optimal. He was eliminated in the semifinals of the Australian Open 2024, stopped in the French quarter-finals Open 2024, and lost in the 2024 Wimbledon final against Alcaraz.

Djokovic's minor appearance could not be separated from the injury problem that reached him. Two months before Wimbledon 2024, the Serbian had just undergone knee surgery.

However, victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics is a sign that Djokovic is back. In fact, his former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, saw the tennis player still be able to play in the next Olympics, Los Angeles 2028.

"Novak doesn't play well in the 2024 Wimbledon final, but here (the 2024 Paris Olympics final) you can see it."

"If they stay for another five hours on the pitch, the result will be the same (Djokovic remains the champion)," Ivanisevic said at Tennis Majors.

"Novak is speeding, he's dancing. People forget that this is his first Olympic final. He feels it's time, he has to take advantage of this opportunity."

"Given how crazy he is, I wouldn't be surprised to see him in Los Angeles 2028 either," Ivanisevic said again.

When he sees his age, Djokovic will turn 41 when he plays at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Despite being old, Ivanisevic believes he can still chase his second gold medal at the Olympics.

Nearby, Ivanisevic believes that the Serbian is now a strong favorite for the US Open 2024 which starts on August 26, 2024.

Djokovic will try to win a fifth Flushing Meadows title that will surpass Margaret Court on an all-time list with a 25th major title.

"I am very happy that he finally won this gold medal. I hope he won his 25th Grand Slam title, broke an absolute record, and then he could retire even though he would never retire," Ivanisevic said.

"I think he can find his motivation, the gold medal will lift him. If he plays like this, he is the one who should be beaten at the US Open 2024," he said again.

Ivanisevic is behind the scenes helping Djokovic claim nine of his 24 Grand Slam titles before leaving his team in March 2024.

Djokovic is still motivated even though he is no longer young. Moreover, he finally won the Golden Slam title on his fourth chance to appear in the Olympics since his first time in 2008 Beijing.

He matched the records of Steffiuff (1988), Andre Agas (1999), Rafael Nadal (2010), and Serena Williams (2012) in singles.