Djokovic Wins Gold in Men's Olympic Tennis

​A 24-time Grand Slam champion, Novak Djokovic achieved another career highlight at the 2024 Paris Olympics, beating 21-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 7-6(2) to win his first Olympic gold medal. Djokovic had competed in four prior Olympic Games and was a bronze medalist in 2008.

The victory was extra special for Djokovic for a number of reasons. The 37-year-old became the oldest tennis player to make a singles final, and avenged a loss to Alcaraz, who beat him three weeks prior in the Wimbledon final. Alcaraz won both the French Open and Wimbledon this year and became the youngest male player to make the Olympic final since 1988. Djokovic and Alcaraz are also the two highest-paid players in the world.

Djokovic was the top seed in the event, held at Stade Roland Garros from July 27 to August 4, and was coming off minor surgery in June for a meniscus tear, but showed no signs of rust in the Olympics. He didn't lose a single set in the tournament and scored impressive wins over longtime rival Rafael Nadal and eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. Alcaraz also didn't lose a set en route to the final.

Italian Lorenzo Musetti beat Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in the bronze medal match.

Robert Palley

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