NOS Sport•vandaag, 17:01
Djokovic finally grabs Olympic title and lets emotions run free
Novak Djokovic has added the last missing piece to his enormous list of achievements. The 37-year-old Serb won Olympic gold on the courts of Roland Garros in Paris, beating Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling final: 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2).
Djokovic won all the major titles in his career (all Grand Slam tournaments, the Davis Cup, the ATP Finals and all Masters tournaments), but he had not yet won Olympic gold. In three of the previous four Games he was eliminated in the semi-finals.
Dreamed final
Djokovic vs. Alcaraz was the dream final in Paris and the duo lived up to expectations. Under the watchful eye of Serena Williams, IOC president Thomas Bach and actors John Travolta and Sharon Stone, among others, a thrilling match unfolded.
Both finalists had not lost a set during the tournament and immediately delivered rallies to savor in the final. The rhythm of Djokovic versus the energy and surprising moves of Alcaraz.
To enjoy
Early in the first set, Alcaraz worked away several break chances from his Serbian opponent, who himself had to work hard at 4-4 to avoid being broken. With a gentle smile, Djokovic brushed away the break points. Alcaraz laughed along happily, both men visibly enjoying the rallies in which they sought out each other’s weaknesses, but also did not undermine each other’s strengths.
The gruellingly long first set got the tiebreak it deserved, with over an hour and a half left on the clock, Djokovic dragged it towards him.
AFP Carlos Alcaraz put up an excellent fight, but just came out on the losing end
In the second set, Djokovic and Alcaraz continued where they left off. This time, only Djokovic got a break chance, but otherwise both world-class players made it a wonderful battle again. And again, a tiebreak had to bring the decision.
Djokovic opened the tiebreak with a magnificent forehand winner, only to repeat the feat at 2-2. The Serb then extended his lead to 6-2 and, with four match points in hand, finished it off with another magnificent forehand winner.
That winning everything there is to win has not made Djokovic blasé was evident from his ecstatic reaction after the winning point.
Summary of historic Djokovic-Alcaraz Olympic final
