Novak Djokovic couldn’t help but tease Carlos Alcaraz about the pair’s Olympic final during a US Open warm-up event in New York.
Djokovic was taking part in an all-star charity event, with the Serb joined by Andre Agassi as they went head-to-head in a doubles match against Alcaraz and John McEnroe.
After the contest, Djokovic was quizzed on his burgeoning rivalry with Alcaraz, after the duo met in yet another final at the Paris Games.
Djokovic came out on top during a thrilling affair in the French capital, topping the podium by virtue of a 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2) victory.
And on the pair’s meeting at Roland-Garros, Djokovic said with a grin: “I told Carlos at the net when we finished the final that I was very grateful to him for letting me win the gold.
“He’s probably going to have like three gold medals before he retires.”
Djokovic knows more than anyone that it isn’t as simple as rocking up to the Olympics and taking a medal, with 16 years separating his first piece of hardware at the Games to his latest.
A bronze medalist at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Djokovic admitted he’d begun to question whether he’d ever get his hands on the elusive gold medal.
On his latest achievement, Djokovic commented: “Doubts always exist, but faith and the belief that I can achieve my goals are always stronger. I was aware that this was my last chance to win an Olympic gold, so I had to focus fully on my goal.
“Nothing will ever surpass seeing myself on the podium listening to the Serbian anthem with the flag raised.”
The Olympic victory came as somewhat of a surprise, given Djokovic hasn’t won a tour title during an injury-ridden 2024 so far.
The 37-year-old came close at the last Grand Slam, finishing second to familiar foe Alcaraz, but Djokovic will enter this month’s US Open as the reigning champion.
Victorious against Daniil Medvedev in the final last year, Djokovic is aiming to become the first men’s player to lift consecutive US Open titles since Roger Federer won five in a row between 2004 and 2008.
He enters the draw as the second seed, with world No.1 Jannik Sinner, fresh from his recent Cincinnati Open win, seeded as the top-ranked player.
The action gets underway in the main draw at Flushing Meadows on Monday, August 26.
