Novak Djokovic confirms plans to target Paris Olympics in 2024 and go for elusive gold medal

Updated 02/03/2023 at 08:34 GMT

One big title is still missing from Novak Djokovic’s portfolio: Olympic gold. The 22-time Grand Slam champion has failed to produce his best tennis on four appearances at the Games, with a bronze medal at Beijing 2008 his best result to date. With the Paris Olympics taking centre-stage in 2024 on the familiar clay of Roland-Garros, Djokovic is hoping to finally end his hunt for gold.

Djokovic has 'lots of desire' to break more records, talks up Paris Olympics bid

Novak Djokovic has confirmed he will target Olympic gold – the one major title missing from his collection – in Paris next summer.

The Serb, who celebrated a record-breaking 378th week at world No.1 this week, won bronze at Beijing 2008 but failed to crack the podium in London, Rio or Tokyo.

The tennis events at Paris 2024 will take play at Roland-Garros, home of the French Open, where Djokovic has won just two of his 22 Grand Slam titles amid Rafael Nadal’s astonishing dominance on clay.

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"I look forward to the Olympics," Djokovic said after beating Tallon Griekspoor at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Wednesday.

"I hope I'll be able to play healthy for next year in Paris. It's going to be played on clay at Roland Garros, so I'm familiar with those grounds. I hope the best Olympic result for me will come there."

Djokovic is appearing in his first tournament since winning the Australian Open in January, with the 35-year-old set to face Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

And after surpassing Steffi Graf with most weeks at the top of the rankings, he insisted he still had the hunger to grab more success.

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"I always try to be very clear with myself what the goals are, what I want from competitive tennis," Djokovic said.

"This is the way I've been brought up and taught by some of the key people in my life, including my parents, and some of the coaches I had early on.

"This kind of mentality helped me to always be so devoted to the game. I always remind myself it's the willpower, the desire to succeed that's an essential ingredient in the whole formula."

Eurosport's Barbara Schett has already backed Djokovic to "get over 400 weeks" at world No. 1.

"Novak Djokovic being the world No. 1 for 378 weeks is seven years, which is unbelievable," Schett told Eurosport.

"When he won the Australian Open at the beginning of the year and he became the No. 1 in the world again, I was thinking 'how is that possible?'

"I don't see this being the end to him being the world No. 1 as I think he will get over 400 weeks.

"He is still the one to beat at the moment and is the most consistent player out there. He has really, really deserved this.

"It is phenomenal what he has achieved, and he rightfully has the record."

Djokovic can equal another record – Serena Williams’ Open Era major record (23 titles) – with one more Slam victory, with the next opportunity coming at Roland-Garros in May.

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