Djokovic Triumphs Over Alcaraz to Secure Olympic Gold
- Novak Djokovic defeats Carlos Alcaraz to win his first Olympic gold medal.
- The victory completes Djokovic’s career Golden Slam.
- Djokovic becomes the oldest Olympic singles champion since 1988.
In a historic and thrilling match at Roland Garros, Novak Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday to claim his first Olympic title, making him the fifth player ever to achieve a career Golden Slam. The 37-year-old Serbian star, competing in his fifth Olympic Games, won with scores of 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2). This victory adds an Olympic gold medal to his impressive collection of 24 Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic’s triumph places him among the elite group of players who have won all four Grand Slam tournaments and an Olympic singles gold, joining the ranks of Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Steffi Graf, and Serena Williams. Additionally, Djokovic became the oldest singles champion since tennis was reintroduced to the Olympics in 1988, dashing Alcaraz’s hopes of adding Olympic gold to his French Open and Wimbledon titles from this summer.
An emotional Djokovic celebrated his victory by waving the Serbian flag on court and then sharing a heartfelt moment with his family. Reflecting on the hard-fought match, Djokovic said, “We almost played three hours, the final shot was the only moment when I was sure I could win the match. I put my body, my family on the line to win gold and finally I did it.”
Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old runner-up, was visibly distraught and struggled to hold back tears during his post-match interview. “Three hours, a big battle with tough moments,” he said. “It’s very painful to lose.”
The match was a rollercoaster of intense rallies and stunning shot-making. Djokovic initially carved out break points early in the first set, only to be met with fierce resistance from Alcaraz. The veteran Serb showcased his resilience by saving multiple break points in a marathon ninth game. The first set concluded after 93 minutes with Djokovic dominating the tiebreak.
The second set continued with the same intensity, featuring dazzling defense and powerful shots from both players. Alcaraz managed to fend off more break points, but the set ultimately ended in another tiebreak, where Djokovic’s experience and determination secured his victory after two hours and 50 minutes of play.
In other Olympic tennis news, Lorenzo Musetti of Italy claimed the bronze medal by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime in three sets, marking Italy’s first men’s tennis medal in 100 years. Later on Sunday, Russian athletes Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider aimed for their first gold in the women’s doubles final against the Italian team of Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini. However, due to geopolitical circumstances, any potential Russian victory will not be officially recognized in the medals table, and their national symbols will be absent from the podium ceremony.
Additionally, the Spanish duo of Cristina Bucsa and Sara Sorribes Tormo secured the bronze medal in women’s doubles by defeating the Czech pair of Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova with a decisive 6-2, 6-2 victory.
