Novak Djokovic has endured a tough start to the year by his standards, but he is by no means planning to go out quietly if this is to be his decline.
At 36 years of age, what the Serbian has been doing is nothing short of mesmeric anyway.
Having won three of the four Grand Slams last year, only losing in the final of Wimbledon to deny him the ultimate accolade, this is the kind of unprecedented and elite-level behaviour that we will likely never see again in the sport.
However, now entering the clay season without a title won this year is uncharted territory, with this tumultuous period typified as Djokovic parted ways with coach Goran Ivanesevic.
Well, regardless of this decision, which Andy Roddick has discussed in length, the Croatian still has high hopes for his former students’ season.
Goran Ivanesevic is praying for Novak Djokovic to win one title in 2024
Speaking to Tennis Majors, the 52-year-old, who enjoyed a thoroughly successful five-year spell coaching Djokovic, was full of praise for the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Then moving on to his aspirations for the rest of the season, he actually hoped for Djokovic to attain something even before potentially adding to that mouth-watering aforementioned majors figure.
Ivanesevic noted: ‘I believe that Novak will find motivation, I am sure of it. I wish him Olympic gold with all my heart, even more than the Slams.
‘It’s something that he wants, he feels like he owes it to someone, although he doesn’t owe anyone anything… I wish for him to succeed in the Olympics.’
Novak Djokovic needs to build up to Olympic success
Well, if Djokovic is planning on adding the elusive Olympic gold to his trophy cabinet, he will have to prepare more than he is currently doing.
Having claimed at the start of the year that his calendar would be far more managed in order to prioritise his fitness for the top events, that will certainly have the 2024 Paris Olympics at the forefront.
After all, the accolade in question is one of few he has not attained throughout his glittering career.
To win it would be to cap off a truly mind-boggling 21 years playing the sport with the final prize that has eluded him.
And with that in mind, we can expect his schedule to get far busier in the months leading up to that event.
For now, however, he will be focused on retaining his Roland-Garros title, a competition set to be laden with fierce competition.
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