Novak Djokovic wrapped up his 2023 season by adding the ATP Finals trophy to the three Grand Slam titles he won this year and the Serb immediately set the bar even higher for next season by targeting a ‘Golden Slam.’
Djokovic, who won a record seventh ATP Finals with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Italian Jannik Sinner, missed out on a Grand Slam sweep this year after losing to Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.
The 36-year-old said in Turin, Italy, he wanted a clean sweep of the majors next year as well as the singles gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
German great Steffi Graf is the only player to have achieved the ‘Golden Slam,’ winning the Australian, French and US Opens, Wimbledon and a gold medal at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
”Well, you can win four Slams and an Olympic gold,” Djokovic said. “I have always the highest ambitions and goals. That’s not going to be different for the next year.
”The drive that I have is still there. My body has been serving me well, listening to me well. I have a great team of people around me.
”Motivation, especially for the biggest tournaments in sport, is still present. It still inspires me to keep going.”
The world No 1 and 24-time Grand Slam winner said he was “very, very proud” of his season.
”Four out of five tournaments … I couldn’t ask for more to be honest.”
This year has been “one of the most successful years in my career that I’ve ever had,” he added.
Djokovic lost to home favorite Sinner in the group stage, but exacted sweet revenge with a sublime display in the title decider. He dropped only two points on serve in a flawless opening set and once he had broken the 22-year-old Sinner’s serve in the fourth game in the second it was largely one-way traffic.
”This is very special,” said Djokovic, who was joined by his children Stefan and Tara on court during the trophy ceremony.
”The way Carlos and Jannik have been playing I had to step it up.”
REUTERS
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