Paris 2024 tennis: Vintage Novak Djokovic plays the match of his life to win Olympic gold at last for Serbia
Novak Djokovic turned and froze in disbelief towards his box, a stunned look on his face.
He went to shake the hand of opponent Carlos Alcaraz and umpire Damien Dumosois, crossed to the other side of the court and dropped to his knees, the very ones that have given him so much injury grief all year and put his last dance in doubt.
He collapsed on his chair, head in towel and burst into tears. He had finally done it.
For the man who has won 24 tennis singles Grand Slams in his career, Djokovic was only missing one piece of silverware, the one that meant so much to him: an Olympic gold medal.
At the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the Serb finally added the missing piece to his illustrious career.
Novak Djokovic, Olympic champion
Winning gold was never going to be easy, even for one of the greatest players of all time.
But a gold medal match against Alcaraz, who had swept Djokovic aside in straight sets in the Wimbledon final three weeks ago to the day, was the toughest opponent possible.
Djokovic became the oldest player to reach the men’s singles gold medal match, Alcaraz the youngest. The Spaniard is in the form of his life off the back of two Grand Slam titles, but the Serb is not one to be ruled out – even at 37 years and 74 days old.
The Court Philippe-Chatrier was looking pristine in the Parisian sun, the perfect setting for one of these men to become an Olympic champion for the first time.
And it was Djokovic who looked like he meant business after a year plagued by injuries, chasing that elusive title that he has craved so long throughout his decorated career.
He was playing with that bit more motivation and spark, desperate for gold on his fifth attempt. It was now or never, and he knew it.
Team Serbia's Novak Djokovic was emotional after winning his first Olympic gold medal
Novak Djokovic rolls back the years to finally seize gold
It is fair to say that this was vintage Djokovic, rolling back the years and playing at a level unseen in a challenging 2024 for him. He was going toe to toe with the man set to take the torch as tennis’ poster boy, but the 37-year-old is not yet ready to give that up – at least not until he got was he was looking for.
Djokovic did not drop a single set at Paris 2024, and he saved the best until last. That both winning sets came down to tiebreaks shows just how tight and high quality this gold medal match was. Neither player was broken in almost three hours of world-class tennis, enduring breathless rallies and some incredible shots.
And to cap it all off, the medal-winning point was something special.
With all the pain and adversity of falling short at the Olympic hurdle over the past 16 years, Djokovic bellowed the loudest he had all afternoon as he smashed a winner into the corner.
Alcaraz reached but it was too far for him. Djokovic could not believe what he had just done, showing pure emotion and shedding tears in an image rarely seen from the Serbian superstar.
Djokovic fulfils Olympic dream at Roland Garros
For 16 years he has dreamt of Olympic gold, beaten three times at the semi-final stage and taking home bronze on debut at Beijing 2008. So close, yet so far, and on each of those occasions losing to the man who would eventually win gold.
But one of the sport’s greatest deserved sport’s greatest accolade, and at last he has been able to win that elusive gold for his nation.
Djokovic becomes just the fifth singles player in history to win the Career 'Golden Slam', joining esteemed company in Serena Williams, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Rafael Nadal, whom he beat in a vintage second-round encounter en route to gold.
In his eyes, Djokovic had one final shot at Olympic glory – he will be 41 by the time LA 2028 comes round. He had to take his chance at Roland Garros, on a court which has brought him three French Open titles, and did he take it.
Djokovic was already one of the greatest of all time, but to win Olympic gold at 37? That may just be his greatest achievement yet.