Novak Djokovic, the all-time leader in men’s Grand Slam singles titles at 24, won his first Olympic gold medal on Sunday at Roland Garros, defeating Carlos Alcaraz of Spain 7-6(3), 7-6( 2) at the end of a high level befitting perhaps the greatest tennis player of all time and his possible successor in that realm.
The match was grueling and tiring, with no service interruptions in the normal course of the game; none of the players were very interested in capitulating to the others. The Serbian star now joins the Golden Slam club: players who have won all four major tournaments – Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open – and an Olympic gold. He joins Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams.
With the second set tiebreaker tied at 2-2, the 37-year-old Djokovic unleashed a devastating cross-court winner from an Alcaraz service game that gave him all the momentum. Alcaraz made a few unforced errors after that. After Djokovic’s fierce match point, he looked at the stands in disbelief. After shaking hands with Alcaraz, he fell to the Roland Garros clay and knelt for a moment. An emotional Djokovic returned to the bench, put his head in a white towel and cried.
Djokovic has achieved everything imaginable in tennis. But the Olympics will do that to you. Representing your country will do that to you.
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Djokovic did not hide his desire for Olympic gold, as the culmination of his career. He now has it.
“Until today I didn’t know there was an even better feeling, which is winning gold for your country,” said Djokovic after the victory. “I couldn’t be more proud and happy. true pleasure, priority.”
With 4-4 in the first set and Djokovic’s serve, Alcaraz, 21, had several opportunities to break his opponent. After executing a beautiful drop shot to fend off Alcaraz in that game, Djokovic let out a roar, his most emphatic gesture on the court to that point. Djokovic’s drop shot lasted all day. He won the first set tiebreaker surprisingly easily.
All day long, Alcaraz took shots of sauce. But he couldn’t solve the man who is arguably the greatest defender in tennis history. Djokovic maintained his stamina even after a few points left him running for his water bottle. Djokovic visibly frustrated Alacaraz, who at one point shot into the net in anger.
The Spanish flags waved and hung at Roland Garros outnumbered the Serbian flags. But Djokoic still won his fair share of support. “No! Nole!” the grateful fans in the stands screamed. You could hear applause for Novak outside the Philippe-Chatrier court during the women’s doubles bronze medal match. Djokovic will always have his detractors. But his excellence at the end of his career and his more graceful behavior on the court in recent years did much to win over the public skeptical of his Covid-era behavior and anti-vax stance. Playing in the Olympics – a tournament that many professional tennis players have missed – is expected to continue to increase her popularity.
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The victory comes just weeks after Alcaraz defeated Djokvic in straight sets in the Wimbledon final. “I feel like I’m a different player than I was at Wimbledon,” Djokovic said before the final. “The way I move, the way I hit the ball. Not to take anything away from his victory in the Wimbledon final, he was dominant and deservedly a winner, but I feel more confident in myself and my chances in the final.”
Your self-assessment was quite accurate. Djokovic moved and hit. He proved that he can still win more championships.
And he just joined the rare Olympic air.
“This is something different,” says Djokovic. “This surpasses anything I’ve ever felt on the tennis court after winning big trophies. It’s an incredible joy.”
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
