He had to wait until his fifth participation in the Olympic Games to win the gold he so coveted. Serbian Novak Djokovic became the oldest Olympic tennis champion in history after his narrow victory against Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (7-6, 7-6). “It’s my pride to play for Serbia,” enthuses the 37-year-old player who can now boast of having won everything.
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Paris 2024 Olympic Games
He finally completes his impressive CV with the success he was perhaps most waiting for. Novak Djokovic will now be able to present himself as an Olympic champion after his success in the final of the Paris 2024 tournament on a court he knows well, that of Roland-Garros where he has won three Grand Slams.
The Serb got the better of the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, winner at Porte d’Auteuil in May, at the end of a stifling encounter which ended in two tie-breaks (7-7, 7-6) this Sunday, August 4. And not only because of the heat. “We played two sets in almost three hours”notes on Eurosport the winner who praises “an incredible fight”.
👑 Novak Djokovic is a LEGEND! The Serbian is crowned Olympic champion after his victory against Carlos Alcaraz (7-6, 7-6) in the final and wins the last major title he was missing! Follow the #Paris2024 Games in full on Eurosport pic.twitter.com/aI2ndFCxRj — Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) August 4, 2024
As strong as Andre Agassi
“When I saw that the match point was out of Carlos’ reach, that was the only moment I understood that I could win”smiled Novak Djokovic who, a few minutes earlier, could not hold back his tears. He rushed to join his wife and their children present in the stands to celebrate this success. The same emotion took hold of him at the time of the medals presentation and the anthem that he sang as loud as he could, his eyes filled with pride. “What’s so special is first of all playing for my country. Carlos and Rafa (Nadal) love playing for Spain. Roger (Federer) loved playing for Switzerland. You see the reactions of all these guys when they win.”he emphasizes.
What this Olympic title means to Novak Djokovic 🥹 The #Paris2024 Games are in full on Eurosport pic.twitter.com/rdzLx1fyaq — Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) August 4, 2024
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Novak Djokovic had been dreaming of this Olympic gold for so long. He himself recalled that he was participating in his 5th Olympic Games in Paris. “Three times out of four, I played the semi-finals but I didn’t manage to get past that obstacle. On the fifth attempt, I got there and what’s more, I won in the final.”insists the man who won bronze in singles in Beijing in 2008.
He does, however, acknowledge that he was not “not as nervous as usual because he had secured a medal” playing this last match of the tournament. At 37, he became the oldest Olympic tennis champion. Only the second, after Andre Agassi, to have won the four Grand Slam tournaments, the Masters and the Olympic tournament. A legend forever etched in the history of his discipline.
Delphine DE FREITAS
