Novak Djokovic has a bet with ion Tiriac - a former French Open champion now a billionaire - after his 2024 Olympic victory.
The world men's tennis legend beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6, 7-6 to win a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics earlier this month.
In addition to the celebrations after the victory over the Spaniard, a bet between Djokovic and businessman Tiriac was made in a phone call. The former tennis player revealed it in an interview with welovetennis.
Tiriac - who won the French Open in 1970 in the men's doubles - shared about Djokovic's early days when he had to go to Romania, because the cost of playing this sport in his hometown of Belgrade was very expensive.
"'Baby' Djokovic has been training in Romania since the beginning, traveling 80km a day because the cost in Belgrade is too expensive," the 85-year-old said.
After earning billions of dollars in the banking industry before switching to insurance, car rental, dealers and airlines, Tiriac revealed that he had bet on Djokovic after the victory in Paris.
But the Romania billionaire, with a net worth of $2.1 billion ( £1.6 billion), has kept quiet about the details surrounding the bet.
"I invited him to the tournament in Bucharest twice. I know him very well. He is a very good person. In fact, I called him after the win at the Paris Olympics and told him: 'young guy, old tennis player'.
I also took this opportunity to bet with him, but unfortunately, I couldn't tell you more about it (laughs)".
Djokovic has a significant net worth, with about £180 million from his tennis career and advertising contracts. But the financial numbers, or rewards surrounding his and Tiriacs bet are still a mystery.
In a previous interview, Tiriac was asked about thinking about Roger Federer, whom he always had the highest respect for despite not being too familiar with each other.
"I really don't know Federer well, but he always respects me. Like other stars in the league, he calls me the boss," he said.
Tiriac admitted that he believes the Swiss superstar belongs to a "different level" with Rafael Nadal and Djokovic, despite having fewer Grand Slams than both players: "I really believe he is at a different level if you compare him to Nadal or Djokovic for example. He is the tennis player who invented things in tennis that never existed before.
Physicalally, he is a bit inferior to Djokovic and Nadal, but there is no doubt about his talent."
