Novak Djokovic wins his first Olympic gold medal, defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s tennis final

Serbian Novak Djokovic reacts after defeating Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s singles final at Roland Garros during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. (Manu Fernandez/AP Photo)

Paris — Despite all his Grand Slam titles and other accomplishments, despite his time at the top of the rankings, Novak Djokovic really, really wanted an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last significant achievement missing from his glittering résumé.

He finally got it at the age of 37. No matter how long it took, Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) in a thrilling and close men’s singles tennis final at the 2024 Olympic Games on Sunday.

“I put my heart, my soul, my body, my family — everything I have — on the line to win Olympic gold,” Djokovic said. “An incredible fight. An incredible fight.”

His impressive career has already included a record 24 Grand Slam trophies for a man, and the most weeks spent at the top of the rankings by a man or woman. It also included a medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics, but it was a bronze — and he made it clear that it simply wasn’t enough.

Until he beat bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals on Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 in this round of the Games, losing each time to eventual gold medalist Rafael Nadal in Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray in London in 2012 and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.

Before his match with Musetti, Djokovic said: “I thought to myself: OK, we have to survive this. So today, before the match, I didn’t feel as nervous as I usually do, because I won a medal.”

In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve on his right knee that required surgery two months ago for a torn meniscus, Djokovic faced Nadal in the second round and eliminated his longtime rival in three sets. Djokovic is now the oldest man to win singles gold in his sport since 1908 — and prevented 21-year-old Spaniard Alcaraz from becoming the youngest.

When victory was his, when gold was his, with that final forehand winner, Djokovic turned to his team in the stands — seated in front of his wife and two children — dropped his racket and knelt on the clay. As emotional as ever, he cried and covered his face before standing up and grabbing the red, white and blue Serbian flag.

After hugs in the stands, Djokovic waved a flag.

“In difficult moments, he gave it his all,” silver medalist Alcaraz said through tears. “It hurts when you lose like that.”

The final, which lasted 2 hours and 50 minutes despite being decided in just two sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match from three weeks earlier, which Alcaraz won to claim the French Open title in June.

Alcaraz also beat Djokovic in last year’s final at the All England Club, but it was Djokovic who came out on top when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament played at Roland Garros, where the tennis matches at these Olympics are being played.

Sunday’s competition featured one of the best to ever do it, Djokovic, and currently the best in Alcaraz. Indeed, it could be frustrating for Djokovic to find himself back on the other side of the net from a younger, faster version of himself. Perhaps that’s why Djokovic often looked up, gestured, and mumbled toward his box.

Despite everything, he managed to win.

“Honestly, when the last shot flew past him, that was the only moment I thought I could win the match,” Djokovic said.

It involved long rallies filled with wonderful ball-striking, deft drop shots—Alcaraz tended to be more effective, sometimes so good that Djokovic refused to even chase—and incredible sprinting, sliding, stretching defenses at both ends. They served so well that neither was broken even once: Djokovic saved eight break points, Alcaraz six.

Most notable, however, was how cleanly both men played, despite the talent of the opposing team and the pressure of the situation.

The only shame, perhaps, for fans — and Alcaraz, of course — was that the Olympics were using a three-set format, rather than the five of the Grand Slam tournaments. Make no mistake, this match between No. 1 seed Djokovic and No. 2 seed Alcaraz was worthy of a grand final.

Those in the stands became part of the spectacle, repeatedly bursting into choruses of “No-le! No-le!” or “Car-los! Car-los!” that often overlapped, creating an operatic fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz attempted a comeback, his supporters began chanting “Si, se puede!” (basically, “Yes, you can!”) while waving their red and yellow flags. Referee Damien Dumusois occasionally reminded people to remain quiet during the action.

Yet the place became as quiet as a theater between points, quiet enough for the performance to be interrupted briefly when the air thick with anticipation was pierced by the cry of a small child.

Both men played to the crowd. When Alcaraz lunged to reach for a single drop shot and put it over the net for the winning score, he reveled in the loud reaction, pointing his right index finger to his ear. When Djokovic hit a forehand winner with a 10-shot advantage to clinch 3-2 in the second tiebreak, he waved both arms above his head to encourage the crowd already standing and shouting.

The first set alone lasted over 1 1/2 hours, filled with epic plays and epic games. One lasted 18 points spread over a dozen mesmerizing minutes, including five break chances for Alcaraz before Djokovic managed to hold on for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreak, Djokovic was better at the crucial moment, as he often is, winning the last four points.

At 3-all, Alcaraz body-served, but Djokovic moved just enough to the left to hit a cross-court forehand return winner. After two errors by Alcaraz, Djokovic volleyed the winner and turned toward his family with a raised fist.

Another set and another tie-break later, Djokovic finally had the coveted medal.

As the Serbian national anthem rang out on Philippe Chatrier’s court, Djokovic reached for the gold and raised it to his lips to kiss it.

Serbian Novak Djokovic embraces his daughter Tara after defeating Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s singles final on Sunday at Roland Garros during the 2024 Summer Olympics. (Manu Fernandez/AP Photo)

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, right, hugs Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz after Sunday’s men’s singles final at Roland Garros during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Djokovic won his first Olympic gold medal by defeating Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2). (Manu Fernandez/AP Photo)

Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz runs to pass the ball to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during the men’s singles final at Roland Garros during the 2024 Summer Olympics on Sunday. (Andy Wong/AP Photo)

Serb Novak Djokovic passes the ball to Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz during Sunday’s men’s singles final. (Manu Fernandez/AP Photo)

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic looks at the ball during his match against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz during Sunday’s men’s singles final at Roland Garros. (Manu Fernandez/AP Photo)

Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz serves to Serb Novak Djokovic during Sunday’s men’s singles final at Roland Garros. (Louise Delmotte/P Photo)