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PARIS – The most anticipated gold medal match in the history of Olympic tennis – and one of the most popular tickets in Paris – held its promise with a two sex and an entertaining legendary champion.
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Novak Djokovic in Serbia defeated Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-2) in a thriller on Sunday at the court of Philippe-Chatrier to win his first gold medal and become the oldest champion of the Male Olympic Singles at 37 years old.
Djokovic comes out of the minor surgery of the meniscus, but you would not have known that watching the first set, which was really epic in both directions. He saved eight breaking points against Alcaraz, 21, who beat him in the Wimbledon final only three weeks ago.
Novak Djokovic in Serbia reacts to the beat of Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in the last tennis match in simple men at the Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros stadium. (Photo of Miguel Medina / Getty Images)
(Miguel Medina via Getty Images)
The second set was just as exciting, the crowd alternating between “Novak!” Novak! ” And “Carlos! Carlos!” Sing while the two men exchanged points.
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In an appropriate manner, this has summed up a second equality break, Djokovic fueling a forehand out of Alcaraz for the victory. At that time, he fell on his knees to celebrate, before heading for the stands to celebrate with his family.
With a record of 24 single home titles, 98 career titles and a 428 -week record at the top of the ATP ranking, Djokovic climbed to the top of male tennis. The Olympic Games were the only real hole on its curriculum vitae. He won bronze in 2008 (Beijing) before missing the three consecutive podium, finishing fourth in 2012 (London) and 2021 (Tokyo) and suffering from a shocking outing in the first round in 2016 (Rio).
This victory – above the reigning France Open and the Wimbledon champion, no less – surely solidifies his case of bigger of all time (goat) on Roger Federer, who has never won Olympic gold, and Rafael Nadal, who won in 2008. Nadal, who lost against Djokovic last weekCan no longer hold his gold medal on him.
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In tennis circles, winning a gold medal does not have the same weight as winning a large home in part in part in the absence of 64 years of game sport (1924-1988) and sets of sets for the best of three. But perhaps the title of Djokovic will be examined differently since he won in a place of Grand Slam against a quadruple champion of the Grand Slam.
Again, perhaps this will not be the case: he did not face a single top 10 player on the way to the gold medal match (n ° 11 Stefanos Tsisipas was his best classified opponent), and the domain of male singles – although relatively strong – did not present Jannik Sinner, who withdrew tonsillit.
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Alcaraz, the youngest man to have ever played in a simple male final, now adds Olympic money to his four major titles – all before his 22nd birthday. Although he did not win in Paris, it was a tournament that he will never forget: playing Djokovic in the final and Play alongside Nadal In what may have been the last games of his idol at Roland-Garros.
With Sunday's victory, Djokovic improved at 4-3 against the young Spaniard, who is surely the future face of sport and would probably be the current face without the legendary Serb who refuses to leave.
