"You could only hear shouting" - Novak Djokovic's protege Hamad Medjedovic recalls the state of Belgrade when Serb clinched the elusive gold

Novak Djokovic’s 2024 Paris Olympics gold undoubtedly placed him in the uppermost echelons of men’s tennis. He achieved the Career Golden Slam, joining the likes of Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, and Steffi Graf in the elite list. The victory, though, wasn’t just his, but all of Serbia’s.

The gold eluded Djokovic in each of his previous four attempts at the Olympics. His best performance before Paris came at Beijing 2008 when he managed a bronze medal.

Accepting the Paris Olympics to be realistically his last chance, the 37-year-old staged a run for the ages, beating Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets in the final. He did not lose a single set throughout his campaign, becoming the first man in history to do so.

His accomplishment became one of the biggest highlights of the Paris Olympics, considering he was battling a knee injury that he suffered on that very court a couple of months ago during the French Open. A packed Philippe-Chatrier was filled with loud cheers and applause as Novak Djokovic proudly donned the Serbian flag. Belgrade, too, burst into euphoria as fans celebrated his historic triumph on the streets.

Novak Djokovic’s protege, Hamad Medjedovic, however, recalled that this was in stark contrast to the silence he witnessed during the tense moments of the final. In conversation with the ATP Tour, the young Serb said that the streets were empty during the title clash.

"I remember when he was playing, every street was empty. You could only hear the shouting, the voices of people screaming," he said.

About his mentor’s Career Golden Slam achievement, Medjedovic added:

"I think in the past few years, sports-wise, I think this is the biggest result that we've had. Everybody was waiting for him to win it. Obviously, he did it all, except that one. We were all so happy after he won it."

"It will be tough to do anything after Novak," he said about his own ambitions.

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Novak Djokovic on realizing his dream of Olympic gold: "Representing our nation is the greatest honor in the world"

Novak Djokovic pictured at the 2024 Paris Olympics - Source: Getty

Novak Djokovic had been vocal about his desire to clinch the elusive Olympic medal in Paris. However, after ending his 2023 season with a devastating Davis Cup loss to Jannik Sinner while representing Serbia, the World No. 2 struggled to regain his footing on the tour.

He did not win a single title, with Wimbledon being his only final before the Paris Olympics—an uncharted territory for the 24-time Grand Slam champion. After his success at Roland Garros against all odds, Djokovic said:

"I could never give up on the dream of winning this gold medal, just as the people of Serbia have never given up on me. Together, we believed in the impossible. While I may be the one holding this medal, I want every Serbian to know that it belongs to all of us," he wrote on Instagram.

"Representing our nation is the greatest honor in the world. This medal, these moments, this life—none of it would have been possible without your unwavering support. This is because of you. This is for you. Hvala vam. Love, Nole," he added.

Novak Djokovic continued his celebrations in Serbia after returning from the French capital. He received a hero’s welcome at the city hall of Belgrade (Stari Dvor).

The World No. 2 is expected to resume his campaign at the 2024 US Open, where he is the defending champion.