After a two-week hiatus, the Paris Olympics finally concluded yesterday. Athletes from around the world not only graced the event with their presence but also showcased extraordinary talent in their respective sports. While the audience found the entire event exciting, from the opening ceremony to the individual competitions, former tennis legend Chris Evert was less impressed. Taking a sly dig at athletes’ fitness, Evert pointed out what she believed the current generation of athletes lacked at the Olympics.

Evert took to her official X profile to share her opinion on how athletes should be motivated to stay fit and perform well during the Olympics. The former tennis legend posted a motivational yet alarming message for young athletes. “I mean, if these 2 weeks don’t inspire us to go workout, lift weights, run, walk, swim, just MOVE…I don’t know what will !🤷‍♀️💪🏼🫵👊❤️,” she tweeted.

Evert’s statement directly encouraged physical activity, emphasizing how a grand event like the Olympics should feature physically fit athletes. She suggested that if the charm of the Olympics can’t inspire participants to work out, lift weights, or engage in any other physical activities, then it’s difficult to see what will motivate them.

While it is unclear whom Evert was referring to in her statement, it seemed that the athletes at the Paris Olympics didn’t fully impress her. For example, America’s Coco Gauff arrived in Paris with high expectations, only to be knocked out by Donna Vekic in the third round.

On the other hand, Danielle Collins had her last Olympic run, reaching the quarterfinals only to lose to Iga Swiatek. Despite not knowing Evert’s exact intention, it appeared she was disappointed by the American tennis players’ average performances in Paris.

Chris Evert might have been slightly disappointed with the athletes’ fitness at the Paris Olympics, but she was truly impressed by Novak Djokovic’s incredible performance for Serbia at age 37.

Novak Djokovic received an ultimate compliment from Chris Evert

Djokovic won his first Olympic gold medal in Paris after defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the finals. As the most senior player on the court, the achievement was nothing short of a dream for the Serb. While Djokovic proved his worth with this victory, former tennis legend Chris Evert was delighted beyond imagination. Expressing her admiration for Djokovic, she tweeted, “Novak….. His love for the game and his country is unprecedented. The strength of his mind is incomparable. His GOAT status is cemented. So happy for him…”  

Chris Evert’s compliment was as priceless as the Olympic gold medal itself. Coming from an 18-time Grand Slam winner, it is a huge benchmark for Djokovic.

Nevertheless, Chris Evert’s statement highlighted that athletes participating in the Olympics should possess great physical fitness. Given that the Olympics is one of the grandest sports events, spectators expect participants to be in peak form. While the Paris Olympics may have disappointed Evert, it also provided an opportunity to witness Djokovic’s marvelous prowess in tennis.