Winner: Novak Djokovic takes the gold medal
Novak Djokovic of Serbia defeated Carlos Alcaraz of Spain on Sunday, 7-6(3), 7-6(2), to win the 2024 Olympic tennis men's singles gold medal.
MATCH STATS l MEN'S SINGLES BRACKET
Djokovic did not drop a singular set throughout the tennis tournament. With his gold medal win, Novak Djokovic is officially the oldest person to win the Olympic singles tournament since 1908. Djokovic has also completed a career "Golden Slam," which is when a player has won all four Grand Slam titles and the gold at the Olympics.
Arguably the biggest success I've ever had.
— Djokovic on his gold medal win in Paris
Who else has won a career Golden Slam in tennis?
Besides the newly gilded Djokovic, only four other tennis players have completed the Golden Slam: Steffi Graff (GER), Andre Agassi (USA), Rafael Nadal (ESP), and Serena Williams (USA).
Set 2 updates
Game 12
In an epic tiebreak to finally put a period on this match, Novak Djokovic won the tiebreak, 7-2.
Tied at 6-all, Djokovic once again pushes Alcaraz to a tiebreak. This could turn very fast in favor of the No. 1 seed.
Game 11
Alcaraz is up 6-5, and is so close to closing this set. He'll need to keep his forced errors at bay.
Game 9
Three game points later and Alcaraz continues his lead in the second set. Can he break the Joker to put a set on his match card?
Game 8
Djokovic serves to take the game. His serve has proven reliable when it counts throughout this match.
Game 7
Alcaraz holds to continue his second set lead, 4-3. If there was ever a time for Alcaraz to turn the burners up, now would be it.
Game 5
Alcaraz feeds off the crowd as he taps a drop shot over the net, holding his ear to the audience after, signaling he loves the crowd applause.
An interesting stat — Alcaraz has made 28 winners in the match, far exceeding Djokovic's 10. But he also exceeds Djokovic's forced errors, racking up 30 to Djokovic's 19. Match time has surpassed 2 hours.
Game 4
Alcaraz serves to start the set, and manages to hold Game 3, a pivotal point to keep the Spaniard in the lead in Set 2. He'll have to break ahead at some point if he hopes to win the set. Match time currently at 1 hour and 55 minutes.
Djokovic takes Set 1
There's finally a notable lead after Djokovic captured the first set tiebreak, 7-3.
Set 1 updates
Tiebreak
At 3-2 in the tiebreak, as Djokovic serves, the crowd chants, "Hold it."
Alcaraz tied the first set to 6-all, Djokovic starts serving the tiebreak.
Game 12: Djokovic closing in on Set 1
Djokovic once again holds — yes, this seems to be the pattern of the match, and is up 6-5 in the first. It'll be critical for him to break Alcaraz next game in order stave off a first set tiebreak. Set 1 currently timed at 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Game 8: The battle for a break continues
Djokovic's defense is relentless. Alcaraz pushed the game to six — yes six — break points, but Djokovic persevered.
Game 7: Alcaraz frustrated
Djokovic once again holds, 4-3.
After dropping the first point of the game, Alcaraz screams in frustration. The Spaniard can't seem to catch a literal break over Djokovic.
Fan fun: The fans are out in full force, some wearing berets to honor Paris, and one fan was shaking what looked like a bowl full of fake paella, supporting the Spaniard.
Game 6: Will the holds ever end?
Djokovic is up 3-2 in the first. He managed to fight back against two break points to hold. Closing in on 40 minutes on the court.
There appeared to be a glint of physical pain from the No. 1 seed, as he seemed to wince after one point, undoubtedly from his knee.
Game 3: Djokovic holds
After taking a two-point lead, Alcaraz makes four unforced errors in a row, helping the Serbian hold.
Djokovic got a knee surgery after the French Open, and despite getting on-court treatment during his match against Italy's Lorenzo Musetti in the semifinals, he seems to be gliding around the court effortlessly.
Game 2: Djokovic fails to break Alcaraz
Game 2 goes to the young gun, with serves hitting speeds of 123 mph, Alcaraz is setting himself up for a victory.
At 30-15 in Game 2, Alcaraz approached the net, prepared to put a point away, but Djokovic blasted a cross-court shot right by him — Alcaraz didn't even reach for it.
At deuce, Alcaraz went big to finish the game, but served it wide. He came back the next point to bring it back to deuce with a deceptive forehand drop shot.
Game 1: Djokovic takes the first game
Djokovic takes the opening game in just four minutes.
Coin toss: Djokovic to open the match serving
Djokovic has won the coin toss and will serve to start the match.
The stadium is buzzing, and big names have taken a seat to watch this box-office brawl.
Attendees include the King and Queen of Denmark, Sharon Stone and Serena Williams, who has not only captured all Grand Slam titles, but multiple Olympic gold medals as well, making her a "Golden Slam" champion.
Pre-match: Novak Djokovic takes on Carlos Alcaraz at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
Olympic tennis concludes today with a marquee match for the ages. All-time men's tennis title winner Novak Djokovic of Serbia goes head-to-head with the leader of the new era of tennis, Carlos Alcaraz of Spain.
Even though the pair are both bidding for the same goal - their first Olympic gold medal, they come to the Games in diametrically opposite places in their careers.
At 21 years old, Alcaraz has already captured four Grand Slam titles, including the French Open trophy in May. Alcaraz burst onto the tennis scene at just 16, and in the ensuing years has postured himself to be the game's next great leading man. Should he win the gold medal, he will become the youngest Olympic singles champion and would join Steffi Graf and Rafael Nadal in winning the French, Wimbledon and Olympic titles in the same year.
While Djokovic's trophy case is bursting at the seams with accolades aplenty, there is one precious piece of metal that has eluded him throughout his career: an Olympic gold. Some say the Serbian is long overdue. Djokovic has only managed an Olympic best of a bronze in 2008 in his five Games appearances. At 37, Djokovic is the oldest player to reach the Olympic men's singles final since tennis returned to the Games program in 1988. Paris may be his last shot to finally end his medal drought. Should he emerge the victor, Djokovic would complete the "Golden Slam" in singles, which is when a player has won all four Grand Slam titles and the gold at the Olympics. To elevate to a "Golden Slam" champion would put Djokovic in rarefied air. Only four other tennis players have completed it: Steffi Graff (GER), Andre Agassi (USA), Nadal (ESP), and Serena Williams (USA).
The pair are currently split in matchups, but Alcaraz took the win in their last meeting at the men's singles final at Wimbledon, decimating Djokovic in straight sets.
While Alcaraz comes to the clay with youth on his side, Djokovic brings with him something even more potent: a champion's final chance for glory.