Novak Djokovic defeats Carolos Alcaraz in straight sets to win first-ever Olympic gold

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic defeated Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets in the men’s singles final to win gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. It’s his first Olympic gold medal.

In what was an intense match for the nearly three hours the duo competed against each other. In what was a rematch of the Wimbeldon final, Djokovic took both two sets 7-6 to win the gold medal.

“I’m overwhelmed with everything that I’m feeling right now,” Djokovic said postgame. “Millions of different emotions, of course [are] positive. So proud, so happy, thrilled with the possibility to fight for a gold medal and to win a gold for the first time in my career for my country. Arguably the biggest success I’ve ever had.”

Alcaraz won the toss and elected to have Djokovic serve first to begin the gold medal match. Djokovic use this opportunity to strike first. Alcaraz went into the net twice to give the Serbian star a 40-0 lead before picking off a shot from Alcaraz to win his first point.

The first set was as close as it gets with neither gaining any ground on the other through the first eight points. The duo was tied 4-4 in the first set for over 15 minutes as it Djokovic 18 points to get the hold. Eventually, Djokovic would take the first set after Alcaraz finished 0-8 on break points.

Tensions rose in the second set, as Alcaraz faced defeat with one more set loss. Alcaraz jumped ahead 2-1, but Djokovic remained resilient. Neither Alcaraz and could break free from another and another tie-break point would decide the medal, which went in Djokovic’s favor 7-2.

Coming into the matchup, Alcaraz was looking to become the first Spaniard to win singles gold in tennis at the Olympics since Rafael Nadal in 2008. At 21, it’s his first-ever Olympic Games.

For Djokovic, he was a 24-time grand slam champion coming into the matchup but had one Olympic medal to his name before Sunday’s gold medal match — a bronze he won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Now, he enters even more rarified air. The gold medal win makes Djokovic the fifth tennis player in history to win all four grand slams and a gold medal in singles competition, joining Steffi Graf (1988), Andre Agassi (1999), Rafael Nadal (2010), Serena Williams (2012) and now Djokovic (2024).

The gold medal match concludes all men’s action in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

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