Novak Djokovic Beats Alcaraz to Win 1st Gold Medal in Olympic Men’s Tennis Bracket

Julia StumbaughAugust 4, 2024

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Novak Djokovic is an Olympic gold medalist at last.

After three former men’s singles semifinal appearances ended in heartbreak, Djokovic won straight tiebreaks to prevail against reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(3), 7-6(2) at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

NBC Olympics & Paralympics @NBCOlympicsNOVAK DJOKOVIC IS AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST FOR THE FIRST TIME! 🥇🇷🇸#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/ltGDConK5Z

Djokovic called the fight against Alcaraz an “incredible battle,” per tennis journalist José Morgado.

“I put my heart, soul, body, family, everything on the line to win the Olympic Gold at the age of 37,” Djokovic said, per Morgado.

José Morgado @josemorgadoDjokovic on Eurosport.

“Incredible battle, fight. I honestly when the last shot went past him it was the only moment I thought I could win the match. He keeps on coming back and asking me to play my best tennis. It was fair to finish both sets in tiebreak.

I don’t know what to… pic.twitter.com/lswBq3TE8I

Djokovic is the oldest man to claim a Summer Games tennis gold.

He is also the fifth tennis player to complete a “golden slam” by winning four majors titles and an Olympic singles gold. He joins tennis legends Andre Agassi, Stefanie Graf, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams as the only players to have achieved the feat.

The match came just two months after Alcaraz won the French Open title on the courts at Roland-Garros.

But Djokovic’s extensive experience on clay gave him the advantage as the 24-time Grand Slam winner fended off Alcaraz.

Djokovic was able to claim the win after expressing concern after the quarterfinals about pain in his surgically-repaired right knee.

Despite that worry, Djokovic dominated Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in the semifinals to reach Alcaraz, then played confidently against his 21-year-old opponent.

Sunday’s match marked the seventh time Djokovic and Alcaraz have faced one another in competition.

Most recently it was Alcaraz who evened the matchup series with a dominant three-set victory over Djokovic in Wimbledon final.

With Djokovic finding redemption in the rematch, he now leads the head-to-head series against Alcaraz, 4-3.

Djokovic saved eight break points on his way to winning the first set. Alcaraz fought his way back from a set point, but Djokovic captured the tiebreak to cap off a thrilling hour-and-a-half battle.

NBC Olympics & Paralympics @NBCOlympicsDjokovic takes an EPIC first set. 💪

He moves six games away from gold after winning the tiebreak against Alcaraz! #ParisOlympics | 📺 Peacock pic.twitter.com/8WsvucpZsW

Alcaraz went up 6-5 in the second set, and looked near to closing it out before Djokovic pushed him to a tiebreak. There Djokovic dominated arguably the most significant tiebreak of his career.

Fans were thrilled by the tightly-contested action between the world No. 1 and No. 2.

Sagar @sagarcasmCarlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic is basically unstoppable force meeting immovable object.

Every point is an event in itself! pic.twitter.com/WME6XFHm9V

Barça Argentina @BarcaArgentina_This Djokovic/Alcaraz Gold Medal match has been the most intense match of tennis I’ve ever seen since Federer and Nadal. #Paris2024 #GOLD

Bruce Tennen @BruceTennenEasily the most competitive fight for the Gold in the #Paris2024 Olympics. Djokovic and Alcaraz are elite tennis players. https://t.co/JpPQSoEMFi

Matthew @Certainly01This Alcaraz-Djokovic match has been insanely even since game 1. Always great to see the best play happen in the gold medal match, unreal stuff for nearly 3 hours now and we’re not even done with set 2 yet 🤯

Snehal Mattoo @mattoo_snehalDjokovic Alcaraz are delivering some of the most INCREDIBLE tennis we’ve ever seen. #OlympicGames

FAST. @F4STFATIWhat an absolute shame we’ll only get a maximum of 3 sets of Djokovic – Alcaraz today, because this is the highest level Tennis we’ve seen all year.

Fans celebrated the tennis legend achieving one of the last remaining goals of his career. Some concluded that Djokovic has now officially reached the status as the greatest player of all time.

wannabe Gaslighter @mindsid99Novak Djokovic just came up with an I am Him performance in an Olympic final.

What a player. What a career. Incredible.

AYEKAY 👾 @ayekayDjokovic is the GOAT. Greatest tennis player of all time. That match was absolutely mind blowing.

☆ @thetayonkoSurely djokovic has cemented himself as the goat now

manager gbadun @Mayor_of_laylayNovak Djokovic just completed tennis, there is nothing he hasn’t won.

Weldone GOAT

Djokovic now adds Olympic gold to a long list of singles career accomplishments that includes 10 Australian Open wins, three French Open titles, seven Wimbledon victories and four wins at the US Open.

Tennis competition continues Sunday with the gold medal match for women’s doubles.