Paris Olympics 2024: Novak Djokovic on Sunday won his first Olympic gold medal by beating Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s tennis singles final.
Djokovic, the 37-year-old Serbian tennis player, defeated Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling final match.
“We almost played three hours, the final shot was the only moment when I was sure I could win the match,” APF quoted Djokovic as saying.
“I put my body, my family on the line to win gold and finally I did it.”
Djokovic’s impressive career already featured a men’s-record 24 Grand Slam titles and the most weeks spent at No. 1 in the rankings by any man or woman.
It also already contained a Summer Olympics medal, from 2008, but it was a bronze .
Djokovic joins Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams as the only players to win all four Grand Slam tournaments and Olympic singles gold.
“Three hours, a big battle with tough moments,” said Alcaraz. The 21-year-old said it was very painful to lose.
Alcaraz cracked first in the tiebreak and when another tiebreak was required to decide the second set, again Djokovic again found another gear, sealing victory with a stunning forehand winner down the line.
Djokovic roared to the sky and after shaking hands with Alcaraz he fell to his knees on the centre of the court before climbing into the crowd to be swamped by his family and team.
Djokovic celebrated by holding aloft the Serbian flag on court.
The 21-year-old Alcaraz, who was denied the Olympic title to go with this year’s French Open and Wimbledon crowns, was in tears at the end.
Djokovic has won three of his six matches against Alcaraz, including in last year’s French Open semi-finals, but the Spaniard has seized power in the men’s game this year, winning the French and Wimbledon crowns back-to-back.