Andy Roddick has watched countless tennis matches since he retired, but Novak Djokovic’s first Olympic gold medal win left him in awe.
Back in the day, Roddick and Djokovic didn’t get along well. Early in his career, Djokovic often retired from matches due to nausea or injuries.
Roddick once mocked Djokovic at a press conference, jokingly listing "bird flu" among his supposed ailments .
Changing Opinions:
Roddick wasn’t alone in commenting on Djokovic’s issues. After losing to Roddick in the 2009 Australian Open quarterfinals due to physical struggles, even Federer noted it had "happened before."
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇷🇸 Novak Djokovic | 37 | 8,360 | 18 - 6 |
But now, Roddick’s view of Djokovic is completely different. As a Tennis Channel analyst, he holds Djokovic in high regard after watching his performance at the Olympics.
Djokovic’s 7-6, 7-6 victory over Carlos Alcaraz in Paris clinched the Olympic gold medal—an achievement that was missing from his illustrious career. This win bolstered claims that he might be the greatest of all time.
Though Djokovic avoids the GOAT debate questions, many think it’s settled. Toni Nadal recently called him the greatest after his Olympic triumph.
Fans might feel this win solidifies Djokovic’s legacy as unmatched.
Roddick praised both Djokovic and Alcaraz for their incredible tennis skills but especially admired how Djokovic overcame physical challenges this season.
“This f**king match with Novak and Alcaraz gave me goosebumps,” Roddick said. “Words can’t express my respect for Novak. He’s been struggling physically all year but said he’d trade any tournament win for an Olympic gold in 2024—and I believe him.”
The American legend also highlighted how exceptional Djokovic’s serving was against Alcaraz on clay courts. He marveled at how Alcaraz couldn’t get consistent looks at his serve despite warm conditions.
“He willed himself to this win,” Roddick added. “Served phenomenal! Carlos not getting consistent looks at your serve on a clay court when it’s warm out—masterful! It felt like Novak was a man on a mission.”
Roddick also noticed how focused and composed Djokovic remained throughout the match. Known for reacting to disrespectful crowd members, this time he ignored fans shouting during serves.
“You could see how much this match meant to him,” Roddick observed. “He didn’t react to crowd noise between serves; you could feel there was something heavy about it.”
What do you think about Roddick’s change of heart?
