Valencia, September 14 > - Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 1, has his sights set on an elusive Olympic gold medal in the upcoming season. Despite nearing the age of 37, Djokovic remains determined to fulfill this Olympic dream, even as he acknowledges the physical and mental challenges posed by a congested tennis schedule.
Djokovic's Olympic journey has seen him clinch bronze in Beijing 2008, but he narrowly missed the top spot in London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020. However, the Serbian tennis maestro is far from slowing down, having secured three Grand Slam titles in 2023, along with a Wimbledon final appearance earlier this year where he was narrowly defeated by Carlos Alcaraz.
“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 said. “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's determination to secure Olympic gold reflects his enduring commitment to excellence in tennis. With a packed calendar of major tournaments ahead, including Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the Olympics, and the US Open, Djokovic's pursuit of Olympic glory adds another layer of excitement to the world of tennis.
Potapova Upsets Jabeur in San Diego Open
San Diego (US): Anastasia Potapova pulled off a stunning victory, defeating the seventh-ranked Ons Jabeur with a score of 6-4, 7-6(4), securing her place in the quarterfinals of the San Diego Open.
This marks the fourth time this year that the 27th-ranked Potapova has triumphed over a top-10 ranked opponent. Speaking about her victory, Potapova attributed it to her patience and unwavering focus, acknowledging that Ons Jabeur posed a formidable challenge on the court.
Jabeur, the top seed hailing from Tunisia, struggled with her serve, landing only 39 of 85 first serves and committing nine double faults. She struggled to find her rhythm throughout the match.
Despite her impressive victory, Potapova recognized the popularity of Jabeur, stating, "Tell me about how popular she is — my mother, she loves her so much."
In other results from the San Diego Open, No. 3 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece advanced when Colombian qualifier Camila Osorio retired due to a right thigh injury, winning 6-3, 2-2. Second-seeded Caroline Garcia avenged a previous three-set loss to Sloane Stephens last month in Cincinnati, securing her spot in the quarters with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 win. Garcia now holds a 5-3 head-to-head advantage over Stephens.
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