The Paris 2024 Olympics were a rare occasion for Novak Djokovic—and not just because the Games are only held every four years. The competition provided the Serb a rare opportunity to chase a coveted title he had never won before.
Since he claimed the Roland Garros crown for the first time in 2016, Olympic gold has remained the elusive missing piece in his trophy cabinet. Now, at 37, Djokovic's career Golden Slam is complete.
His 7-6(3), 7-6(2) victory against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's gold medal match made him just the fifth player in history—man or woman—to win all four Grand Slams and Olympic gold. He joins Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams on that illustrious list.
“I’m overwhelmed with everything that I’m feeling right now,” Djokovic said post-match. “Millions of different emotions of course: positive, too proud, too happy. The possibility to fight for a gold and to win a gold for the first time in my career for my country is arguably the biggest success I ever had.
“Of course, I want everything there is to win in my individual career, but winning Davis Cup and particularly the golden medal at an Olympic Games for Serbia at the age of 37 unprecedented. Just starting my celebration, I can’t wait for what’s coming up in the next 48 hours.”
Djokovic's previous best Olympic result was a bronze medal in his debut at the 2008 Beijing Games. Until Sunday, he had not been back on the podium since, finishing fourth in 2012 (London) and 2021 (Tokyo), either side of a shock first-round exit in 2016 (Rio de Janeiro).
Asked if his gold medal completed his "puzzle," Djokovic's answer gave insight into the mindset of one of the great champions in sports history.
“Yes it is. It is,” he began. “I’m telling myself always that I am enough. Because I can be very self-critical. I don’t know. That’s one of the biggest internal battles I keep on fighting with myself, that I feel like I haven’t done enough or been enough in my life on and off the court. So it’s a big lesson for me. I’m super grateful for the blessing to win a historic gold medal for my country, to complete the Golden Slam, to complete all the records.”
In a final of the highest quality, neither man dropped serve. Djokovic saved eight break points in the opening set while Alcaraz fought off five, including one that doubled as a set point for Djokovic at 6-5. Alcaraz erased the only break point of set two early in the frame.
Djokovic dominated the closing stretch of both tiebreaks, winning four straight points from 3-3 in the opening set and five in a row from 2-2 in the second. On match point, he followed a deep backhand return with an inside-in forehand winner before turning to his team in disbelief.
After shaking hands with Alcaraz and the chair umpire, Djokovic dropped to his knees in tears, shaking as he soaked in the enormity of the moment.
The Olympic final was a battle for the ages, pitting the oldest man (37) to play in a singles gold medal match against the youngest (21). After being "dominated," in his own words, by Alcaraz in last month's Wimbledon final, Djokovic turned the tables Sunday to improve to 4-3 in the pair's budding rivalry.
Could we see the eighth installment of this generational series at the US Open? The pair have yet to do battle in New York, where Djokovic will bid to win a record-extending 25th Grand Slam men's singles title.
