At this point, Novak Djokovic has nothing left to prove, which is why he shed joyful tears on the red clay of Roland Garros.
He is now finally an Olympic champion after defeating Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-2), completing the only missing element in one of the most impressive tennis resumes in history.
It was a gripping contest in front of a crowd of 15,000. After nearly three hours of play, one could not help but feel sympathy for Alcaraz, who, despite the loss, emerged as a hero, with a silver medal that provided little immediate solace.
The 21-year-old also shed tears, but for reasons that were more painful than his opponent’s, although his opportunity for redemption will come.
One cannot guarantee the same for Novak. Now 37, he will be 41 by the time the Los Angeles Olympics arrive in 2028. This realization of a finite timeline undoubtedly influenced the way he celebrated.
Novak Djokovic sunk to his knees after winning the men’s singles gold medal match on Sunday
Djokovic was emotional as he held up a Serbian flag after ending his long wait for Olympic gold
New Olympic champion Djokovic pictured hugging Carlos Alcaraz after beating him 7-6 7-6
Serena Williams, who has four Olympic gold medals, was among the crowd for Sunday’s final
Once he composed himself after the match, he sat in his chair and wept before taking the Serbian flag presented to him. He then climbed into the stands of Court Philippe-Chatrier to embrace his wife, Jelena, and their six-year-old daughter, Tara.
Though Tara may not yet grasp the magnitude of her father’s achievement, she can take pride in knowing he is one of just five legends to have achieved the career ‘Golden Slam’, winning Wimbledon, the French, US, and Australian Opens, along with Olympic gold. The others include Steffi Graf in 1998, Andre Agassi in 1999, Rafael Nadal in 2010, and Serena Williams in 2012.
“In three out of four Olympic Games, I lost in the semifinals. I won a bronze medal in Beijing. I carried the flag for Serbia at the 2012 London Games, which was one of the best feelings of my life.
“I didn’t realize until today that there was an even better feeling—winning gold for your country.
“This surpasses everything I’ve ever felt on the tennis court. It’s an incredible joy.”
Remarkably, Djokovic achieved this victory despite having damaged his meniscus during the French Open in June. He wore strapping on his right knee throughout the Olympic tournament.
Rather than opting for a complete surgical repair, which would have involved stitching the damaged area and weeks in a knee brace, he had the area filed down with a specialized ‘duckbill punch’ tool.
He required treatment for a flare-up during his quarter-final win over Stefanos Tsitsipas. A man driven by a passion for breaking records, nothing could easily deter him. Nevertheless, he is now moving significantly more freely than he did during the Wimbledon final when Alcaraz easily overpowered him.
Djokovic was in tears moments after his victory at Roland Garros in Paris on Sunday afternoon
Shortly after the match, Djokovic climbed into the crowd and made a beeline for his family
Djokovic pictured kissing wife Jelena after he completed a career Golden Slam on Sunday
A grinning Djokovic pictured standing on top of an Olympic podium, flanked by runner-up Alcarez (left) and Lorenzo Musetti (right) – who won the bronze medal for Italy
Sunday’s match proved grueling for both competitors. Neither managed to break the other’s serve, underscoring just how tightly contested it was.
With his inventiveness, youthfulness, and agility, Alcaraz performed brilliantly, showing no signs of giving up. His forehand was as precise and effective as an Exocet missile. Has there ever been a more lethal weapon in tennis? Additionally, he displayed remarkable finesse with his deft drop shots.
But then there was Djokovic. He was impenetrable, and observers could only admire his resilience and tactical prowess. As little Tara’s sign proclaimed: ‘Dad’s the best.’
He is certainly one of the toughest competitors, which may very well reflect the same sentiment.
