Novak Djokovic, with 24 Grand Slam titles to his name and an Olympic gold in his grasp, has reached heights most tennis players can only dream of. He’s a living legend, rewriting the history books with each match. But even for someone of his stature, the journey hasn’t been without its challenges. One of the biggest names that has consistently stood in his way? None other than his longtime rival, Rafael Nadal.

The Serbian Tennis Maestro did not clinch a single title this season; hence, his performance at the Paris Olympics was questioned by tennis enthusiasts. However, Nole gave a fitting response to his critics. But the campaign was not easy for him either, and he had his own set of concerns ahead of the tournament. 

Speaking to Serbian national broadcaster RTS, Djokovic reflected upon his Paris Olympics campaign. “I always feel, so to say, ’general’ pressure that I always have to win – from others, but from myself as well since I am a perfectionist and I sacrifice a lot in order to play my best when it matters the most.” The sacrificing aspect of the Serbian legend was primarily seen after the French Open. Remember, Nole tore the medial meniscus in his right knee and withdrew from the tournament despite qualifying for the quarterfinals. While many did not accept him to return to the courts anytime soon, he made a speedy comeback and returned for Wimbledon, defying all odds. However, this also helped the star player. 

“The Olympics were my main goal. I was very worried after the knee injury at Roland-Garros, but when I managed to play the finals at Wimbledon, I was relieved since I knew I would be ready for the Olympics.” However, despite confidence, Djokovic admitted an additional pressure that he had to overcome. “Ahead of the finals in Paris, I haven’t lost a set, I’ve beaten Nadal at his home – although he was not at his best, but still, beating him in Paris is something huge,” he said while talking about the Nadal factor. 

Rafael Nadal and Djokovic played against each other on 59 occasions ahead of the Olympic showdown. While Djokovic led the tally 30-29, Nadal’s dominance on clay and his 14 Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros kept him worrying. Besides, Rafa already had two Olympic Gold Medals to his name and hence, the pressure on Djokovic was justifiable. But while he managed to outshine the Spanish legend at the Olympics, there was yet another struggle he faced in New York. 

Novak Djokovic admits to facing more pressure at US Open than Olympics

Novak Djokovic was poised to clinch the 25th Grand Slam title at the US Open until a major setback from Alexei Popyrin halted his campaign. He now reflected upon the woes at the tournament and highlighted that he felt more pressure in New York than in the Paris Olympics. 

Speaking in the same interview, Nole said, “I felt that it wasn’t me on the court, that I was not well-prepared, so I felt more additional pressure ahead of every match compared to before the finals at the Olympics. Just because of the way I felt.” He further highlighted the importance of staying at best in the sport. “Tennis is an individual sport – if you don’t have a solution on a given day, that’s it, you lose. Over the years, that kept me disciplined”. 

As he prepares to enter the Davis Cup and represent Serbia, it would be interesting to see if he can keep his Paris Olympics form intact and win yet another accolade.