Djokovic is a Golden God at Paris Olympics

It’s one of the greatest achievements in sports history. 

Novak Djokovic, age 37, could have retired after tearing a meniscus at Roland Garros. While Rafa Nadal skipped Wimbledon to stay on clay, Djokovic surprised many by playing at Wimbledon and reaching the final. But he was trounced by Carlos Alcaraz, whose recent play resembles peak levels of Bjorn Borg or Roger Federer.

Alcaraz, with four slams at age 21, played super-human tennis in the Olympic final. But Djokovic won it by playing his very best tennis in both tie-breakers. 

It was the best match of 2024, and maybe the most dramatic final since Djokovic beat Alcaraz in Mason, Ohio at the Western and Southern Open in August 2023. 

Djokovic started the Olympic final with great depth on forehands and backhands to keep Alcaraz on defense and away from the net. Missing backhands, Carlitos ran around it into the doubles alley to hit forehand winners and perfectly weighted drop shots.

Djokovic, hoping to disrupt Alcaraz’s rhythm, perhaps went for too many droppers in the first set. But Carlitos feeds on his own speed, and he devoured anything short, weak or high. Playing at insane levels, Djokovic and Alcaraz smiled while serving out of trouble and surviving break points by a knife edge. Djokovic seemed to have an inner calm and a belief in his destiny, while Alcaraz continued to dazzle with incredible speed, defense and winners from everywhere.

Djokovic won the first set tie-breaker with an incredible return of body serve, a perfect serve out wide and a lunging drop volley.

In the second set tie-breaker, Novak hit perhaps two of the fastest cross-court forehands ever, and then another deep forehand to go up 4-2 . He ground down Carlos into shanking two swings into the net. Then Novak hammered yet another forehand to win his first gold.

Novak cried tears of joy and relief, finally winning his first gold medal to complete the Golden Slam. While some urged Djokovic to retire, it’s clear that Novak revels in his new rivalry with the younger Alcaraz, which often resembles a father and son enjoying a friendly duel on a Sunday afternoon. 

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