Novak Djokovic has earned one of the most prestigious honors a tennis player can achieve: a career golden slam. The 37-year-old Serbian took down Spain's Carlos Alcaraz 7-6, 7-6 on Sunday to win his first ever gold medal at the Olympics. Djokovic is among exclusive company with Steffi Graff (1988), Andre Agassi (1999), Rafael Nadal (2010) and Serena Williams (2012) to achieve the career golden slam. The honor is earned when a player wins all four Grand Slams and an Olympic gold in singles.
Tennis fans could truly see how much Sunday’s match meant to the 24-time Grand Slam champion as he clearly displayed his best tennis of 2024. He sealed the victory with a forehand winner and dropped to the Roland-Garros clay in tears.
Djokovic’s emotions are pouring out in a way that is different even from 24 Grand Slam singles titles, and the more joyful he gets, the more overcome we see Alcaraz getting too, about how close he was. Djokovic, after sobbing into a towel on his bench, climbed into the stands and made his way with a zigzagging path toward his family for a tight embrace. He’s back down on the court to get his gold.
Djokovic’s Emotional Triumph
Djokovic has made no secret of his desire to win Olympic gold, how much his underperformance at the Games has haunted his career. And he cannot stem the flow of tears having seen off Alcaraz in the tiebreak. “Most of all, it's my country. The pride to play for Serbia,” he told Eurosport. “I know Carlos and Rafa (Nadal) love to play for Spain, Andy (Murray) loves to play for Britain, Roger (Federer) for Switzerland, you saw the reaction of all these guys when they win. It's something special.”
“This is my fifth Olympic Games. Three out of four Olympic Games I played semifinals and never managed to overcome that hurdle for some reason. When I entered the court for the semifinal against (Lorenzo) Musetti, I was thinking about it,” Djokovic added. “That's why today, before the match, I did not feel as nervous as I would normally feel because I secured a medal. But, of course, I was going to go for gold.”
Sport is a game of sacrifice across every Olympic discipline, but there will not be many athletes who have sacrificed more than Djokovic to win gold at these Games. “We both had our chances to break but, when it mattered, we both came up with big serves and big plays,” he told Eurosport. “I don't know what to say, I'm still in shock. I put my heart, my soul, my body, my family, my everything on the line to win Olympic gold. At age 37, I finally did it.”
Alcaraz's Heartbreak
The crowd are on their feet on Court Philippe Chatrier and there is so much respect from them for the silver medalist, Carlos Alcaraz. As he prepared to speak to Eurosport, the 21-year-old could not stop the flow of tears. He has already won so much in tennis, and will continue to do so, but he has seen Djokovic wait until his 38th year to get his hands on a gold medal. Losing a Grand Slam final must be hard, but losing the Olympic gold medal match must be horrendous, particularly to lose it without dropping a service game.
“I think I put more pressure on myself because I was playing for Spain, for the Spaniards,” Alcaraz said. “I felt that I let the Spanish people down by not winning the gold.” Alcaraz, 21, said he had not felt that type of pressure in the four Grand Slam finals that he played -- and won -- so far in his career. “It was a different type of pressure,” Alcaraz said. “Everyone in Spain wanted me to win the gold, and I wanted to win the gold as well.” He said the extra pressure cost him especially in the decisive moments of the game. “In those difficult moments I usually raise my level, but I wasn't able to do that today,” Alcaraz said. “Probably I felt the pressure in those situations. You play four Grand Slams every year, the Olympics is only once every four years.”
He said there was still reason for him to be proud after “knowing that I gave everything.” “Obviously this week, this tournament has been really special for me,” Alcaraz said. “I'm going to take it for the rest of my life, for the rest of my career, for sure. Playing with Rafa, getting my first Olympics medal -- hopefully not the last one -- it's been a special one.”
A Thrilling Battle
The final was a thrilling affair with both players displaying incredible skill and determination. The first set, which lasted more than 90 minutes, was a testament to their abilities, with neither player able to break the other's serve. The tiebreak was a tense affair, with Djokovic ultimately prevailing 7-3. The second set followed a similar script, with the tension mounting as the set reached its climax. Ultimately, Djokovic's experience and composure proved decisive, securing a 7-6 victory in the tiebreaker.
Djokovic has now achieved every major title in tennis, a truly remarkable feat. His unwavering dedication and resilience have made him one of the greatest players of all time, and his victory in Paris is a testament to his enduring legacy.
A New Chapter
Djokovic's victory in Paris marks a new chapter in his illustrious career. It is a culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. The Olympic gold medal is a fitting tribute to his accomplishments and a testament to his enduring spirit. As Djokovic embraces the next stage of his career, the world of tennis will be watching with anticipation, eager to see what new heights he can reach. The future looks bright for the Serbian superstar, and his journey is far from over. With his newfound Olympic gold, Djokovic has cemented his place in tennis history, inspiring generations to come with his unwavering passion and commitment to the sport.
