MISSION POSSIBLE
After French Open title Djokovic targets Golden Grand Slam
Paris, June 14: Novak Djokovic has set his sights on the Golden Grand Slam of all four majors and the Olympic title, insisting: “Everything is possible”.
The world number one captured a second French Open and 19th Slam with a 6-7 (6/8), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday.
It allowed him to become the first man in the Open era, and only third in history, to claim all four Grand Slam titles on multiple occasions.
Now he has targeted being the third man to complete a calendar Grand Slam after Don Budge in 1937 and Rod Laver in 1962 and 1969.
On top of that, he also wants the Olympic gold medal to complete the Golden Grand Slam.
“Everything is possible. Definitely in my case I can say that what I’ve been through in my career, in my life, this journey has been terrific so far. I’ve achieved some things that a lot of people thought it would be not possible for me to achieve,” said Djokovic.
“So everything is possible, and I did put myself in a good position to go for the Golden Slam.”
The Golden Slam has never been achieved by a man while, in the women’s game, only Steffi Graf in 1988 has swept all four majors and Olympic gold in the same year. In Graf ’s case, Olympic gold came in Seoul. For Djokovic, the opportunity will come in Tokyo later this summer.
Djokovic is already halfway to a calendar Slam having secured a record ninth Australian Open in February.
Everything is possible, and I did put myself in a good position to go for the Golden Slam...
— NOVAK DJOKOVIC
after winning the French Open crown