Novak Djokovic will be honoured in Serbia after winning his first Olympic gold medal.
The 37-year-old finally got his hands on the one achievement that had always evaded him by beating Carlos Alcaraz in an epic final on Sunday.
It’s Serbia’s first gold medal in tennis. And the president of Djokovic’s home nation wants to celebrate him by copying Rafael Nadal’s legacy in Mallorca.
jokovic had made it no secret that winning gold at the Olympics was his biggest goal this year. The world No. 2 had a tough season going into the Paris 2024 Games – he hadn’t yet won a title or beaten a player in the top 10.
But he finally ended both waits, beating world No. 3 Alcaraz in two nail-biting tiebreak sets to be crowned the Olympic champion in men’s singles. The Serb was in tears and later said: “Being on that court with Serbian flag raising and singing Serban anthem and carrying gold around my neck, I think nothing can beat that in terms of professional sport.”
Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic is now keen to recognise Djokovic’s incredible career and his latest achievement by constructing a museum. And he has been inspired by Nadal. “We had the first discussions about the construction of the Novak Djokovic museum, which is expected to become another attraction for the city,” Vucic said on Tuesday.
Palma de Mallorca has a museum dedicated to Rafael Nadal. We will strive to showcase what Djokovic has done for our country in accordance with his merits and at the same time attract tourists.”
The Serbian president is hoping that the museum will be completed in time for Belgrade to host the World Expo in 2027. With 24 Grand Slam trophies and 75 other career titles to his name, Djokovic has more than enough to fill a few exhibitions.
Nadal already has a museum attached to his training academy in his home of Manacor in Mallorca. It’s home to the majority of the Spaniard’s trophies, including his 22 Grand Slams, his first career title and his own gold medals.
The Rafa Nadal Museum also houses memorabilia from tennis and other sports, including vintage rackets, worn match kits and signed donations from the likes of David Beckham and Michael Jordan.
