Former World Number One Emotional After Victory
On Sunday in Paris, the latest installment of the best rivalry in tennis did not disappoint. Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz squared off in the Gold Medal match, with the Serbian winning 7-6, 7-6. The razor-thin margin was nothing like three weeks ago at Wimbledon when the younger Alcaraz dominated in a straight-set victory. But, back on the clay of Roland Garros, Djokovic was able to pull off the win. The slower conditions and the best-of-three set format no doubt brought out the best in Djokovic. The 24-time Grand Slam winner called it the biggest success in his career.
Surprisingly, Djokovic struggled at previous Olympics. He captured bronze in 2008 but has not medalled since. After the win, an emotional Djokovic went into the stands and cried with his family. “I thought carrying the flag at the [2012 Olympic] opening ceremony was the best feeling ever until I experienced today,” said Djokovic. “Being on that court with the Serbian flag raising and singing the Serbian anthem and wearing the gold medal around my neck, I think nothing can beat that in terms of professional sport.”
Djokovic now leads Alcaraz 5-3 in their career head-to-head. The next high-stakes opportunity to battle is in New York City, where both players plan to compete in the 2024 U.S. Open, which begins on August 26th.
PARIS, FRANCE – Novak Djokovic meets Carlos Alcaraz at the net following victory in the Men’s Singles Gold medal at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
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