Novak Djokovic has a one-word reaction to Serbia’s heartbreaking defeat to USA in Paris Olympics basketball semifinals

Novak Djokovic tried to raise the basketball team's spirits after defeat to the USA in the semifinals at the Paris Olympics.

Novak Djokovic has a one-word reaction to Serbia’s heartbreaking defeat to USA in Paris Olympics basketball semifinals

Novak Djokovic, Serbia vs USA basketball at Paris Olympics (Images via Imago, X)

The USA’s basketball team fought back to eke out a thrilling victory over Serbia in the semifinals of the Paris Olympics on August 8th, all thanks to Stephen Curry‘s vintage performance. With a 95-91 victory, the USA is through to the final to play against France, which also will be a repeat of what happened in the previous edition of the Olympics in Tokyo, which the USA won 87-82. Serbia will play the bronze medal match against Germany. 

Although it was a heartbreaking moment for the Serbian basketball team and its supporters, the country’s legend Novak Djokovic, like many Serbian fans, tried to raise the team’s spirits by sharing a message on social media. He simply had a one-word reaction to the entire thing, calling the basketball team the ‘Pride’ of Serbia on his Instagram Story. Djokovic’s former coach Boris Becker also agreed with the Serb’s comment and took to X to write: “Absolutely.” 

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Though Serbia’s basketball team failed to secure the Olympic gold, Djokovic won the elusive medal a few days ago. On August 4th, he was up against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and showed no mercy to the youngster by beating him with a scoreline of 7-6(7-3), 7-6(7-2) to win his first Olympic gold, which in turn, made him the only fifth player to complete the Career Golden Slam. 

It was also Djokovic’s second Olympic medal, having won the bronze in his debut at the 2008 Beijing Games. The final in Paris was also the Serb’s first one at the Games. 

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Andy Roddick feels Novak Djokovic’s Grand Slam victory is worth more than his Olympic gold medal

Even though for Novak Djokovic, the Olympic gold is his biggest achievement, for Andy Roddick, it’s a Grand Slam victory. The American, on his latest episode of his podcast, explained why he would have chosen a Wimbledon title instead of the Olympic gold. 

Novak Djokovic 1
Novak Djokovic (Image via Imago)
I think it’s each individual (choice). I think if you ask people, is this (as) important as a Slam, and I certainly felt this pressure in 2004, do you value this? Years later, I’m like no. It’s not even worth a conversation. I would definitely have taken a Wimbledon title instead of that, 100%.
Andy Roddick said on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast

Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam trophies and the Olympic gold was the only big title missing from the trophy cabinet before the Paris Games. Roddick, on the other hand, reached the third round at the 2004 Athens Games.

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