Novak Djokovic gets his gold medal in stunning victory over Carlos Alcaraz

The match was incredible. Neither Novak Djokovic nor Carlos Alcaraz had an easy game and few points were easy either. One shot rarely won a point. Neither did two shots.

These were not easy points to play either. Had Alcaraz or Djokovic played any other player, they likely would not have lost more than four games. Instead, the two best players in the world - Jannik Sinner is ranked No. 1 but he is not the player that Djokovic and Sinner are if the Serb and Spaniard are playing in the best form - pushed each other to greatness.

Alcaraz will have his chance again, of course, to win gold. He is only 21 years old. For Djokovic, these are his final games. The 37-year-old has done remarkable things that no other player has ever accomplished, but expecting a 41-year-old Djokovic to appear in the Summer Games in 2026 might be too much.

Novak Djokovic wins gold medal final by defeating Carlos Alcaraz at Paris Olympics

The Serb now has won all four Grand Slams and Olympic gold, something only four other players had done before. He is undoubtedly the greatest player that has ever lived. If there was any doubt - and there should not have been - that he was the tennis GOAT before the final against Alcaraz, there should be no argument now.

The Serb defeated the best young player on the ATP tour and one who is ascending toward all-time greatness. He and Djokovic have played several of the best and most important matches in tennis over the last three years. Beating Alcaraz was a monumental task, especially as the Spaniard was playing so well, but to do so while winning gold for Serbia is immeasurably special.

The final was 7-6(3) 7-6(2) and Djokovic won in a way that has helped him become the best ever. He did not lose any break points (and, to be fair, neither did Alcaraz) and he dominated the tie-breaks. The emotion Djokovic showed at the end of the match proved how important the victory was to him. He had not won a tournament heading into the Olympics, but if he had to win only one in 2024, the Olympics was it.

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