What Would an Olympic Gold Medal Mean for Novak Djokovic?

There are no rankings points or prize money on the line for tennis stars competing at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

So what does someone as accomplished as world No. 1 Novak Djokovic have to play for in the absence of those incentives? Legacy and patriotism.

In Rio de Janeiro, Djokovic will vie for something more than just momentary glory. There’s an opportunity for him to not only further cement his case for GOAT honors but also bring a rare gold medal to Serbia.

Motivation? That won’t be an issue for Djokovic as he seeks to check off those special goals.

“There’s a different dimension to the Olympics: a dimension of pride and honor and passion,” Djokovic told the Telegraph’s Simon Briggs. “I look forward to being part of that energy, absorbing that energy and giving my energy to that.”

From an individual standpoint, these Rio games could offer Djokovic a historical boost. Only Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal have completed a career Golden Slam—winning all four majors and the Olympics. He has a chance to join that elusive club in the coming days, something not even Roger Federer can say he’s done in singles action.

With each major victory, Djokovic closes in on Federer’s hallowed record. Whether he surpasses it or not is a storyline that will intensify the next few years. In the meantime, Djokovic can add an extra feather to his cap by claiming a gold medal. It would bolster his own argument to be considered …

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