“For Novak Djokovic, winning the gold medal is like the icing on the cake” – Jimmy Connors on the importance of Serb’s Paris Olympics triumph

Former World No.1 Jimmy Connors reckons winning the gold medal is like the icing on the cake for Novak Djokovic. The Serbian was chasing the prestigious Gold medal in his fifth appearance at the Games.

The veteran had won a bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics but since then not only a gold medal but also any Olympic medal had eluded him. However, Djokovic was finally able to add the Olympic Gold medallist title to his impressive tennis CV.

The Serb bested Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets by 7-6, 7-6. The 24-time Grand Slam champion lifted his game in the crucial stages and finally defeated the young Spaniard.

Djokovic had to battle for two hours and 50 minutes in the summit clash and he was emotional after getting over the line.

“Probably this gold medal is as important to him as his first Wimbledon or US Open because he’s done the others, you know, he’s won every Grand Slam and many other tournaments. But winning the gold medal, for him, it’s like the icing on the cake,” Connors said on Advantage Connors podcast.

Connors hailed the duo for producing a high level of tennis in the gold medal match.

“Almost three hours of play, 7-6(3), 7-6(2), the kind of tennis that they produced, what do you expect?” Connors added.

Meanwhile, Djokovic had not won a single title in the ongoing season before entering the Paris Olympics. Connors had earlier suggested that age might be catching Djokovic as he is 37.

“Age is something that you can never beat and as much you try to fight it and as much as you try to figure out a way with your diet or with your training or whatever, numbers count in that,” Connors said.

Djokovic received a hero’s welcome in Serbia after he decided to skip the Canadian Open in Montreal.