VALENCIA — Chasing an elusive Olympic gold medal will be one of Novak Djokovic’s main goals for next season even though the 24-times Grand Slam champion knows he will have to be physically and mentally ready to cope with a crammed schedule.
Djokovic won bronze in Beijing 2008 and fell short in London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo two years ago, but the Serbian who will turn 37 before the next Games begin is still fighting fit after claiming three Grand Slam titles in 2023.
The world number one also made the Wimbledon final earlier this year, where he was beaten in five sets by Carlos Alcaraz, and he is in no mood to slow down.
“My plan for now is to play the Olympic Games, so I’m hoping that I will be able to play, that I will be ready physically and mentally,” Djokovic told reporters in Valencia, where he turned up to play in the Davis Cup just days after his US Open triumph.
“It’s going to be a very congested and challenging schedule next year, with Roland Garros on clay, Wimbledon on grass, the Olympics on clay and then the US Open and the tournaments before that on hardcourts.
“It’s going to be challenging for players, but my plan is to play the Olympics, because it’s one of the most important events in the history of the sport. That’s where you also represent the country and the feeling of being part of it is a huge honour.”
Djokovic missed Serbia’s 3-0 victory over South Korea in the Finals group stage.
“I don’t feel very fresh, obviously, after an exhausting several months with a lot of tennis and a lot of matches but I think this is in a way a positive tiredness I feel because of the success I had in America,” Djokovic said.
“There’s not much time to recover, I have to maintain the intensity and do everything I can to adapt my body to the new time zone, new conditions and be able to contribute to my country with a point.”
Djokovic stepped in to defend Alcaraz for missing this week’s Davis Cup matches, saying the 20-year-old Spaniard may be young but he’s not Superman.
Djokovic told the Spanish media in Valencia: “Maybe you guys are upset he’s not playing for Spain, because he’s 20 years old and I’m 36, and how he’s tired and I’m not.
“It’s important to understand he’s got a lot of time ahead of him.”
Djokovic, who defeated Medvedev for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows, added: “He already played for Spain last year, you can’t forget that.
“He won the US Open last year and after a few days he was here playing for his heart and his passion for his country.”
The world number one recalled the upset he triggered when choosing not to compete for Serbia in the annual men’s team competition.
“I have skipped the Davis Cup several times, I know the backlash and reaction from my country was not so great and there’s a lot of negativity when you skip playing for your country,” he said.
“It’s difficult to always be perfect and always available. We’re part of an individual sport, you represent your country but also yourself and there’s a lot of tournaments, and he has played a lot.
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