Whilst Novak Djokovic’s period of dominance touched each different vital event on this planet, as he swept up each grand slam title, all Masters 1000 occasions and compiled extra weeks at No 1 than another participant within the sport’s historical past, the Olympics remained a void that he simply couldn’t fill. His lifelong pursuit of a gold medal has led to a number of the most excruciating moments of his profession, forcing him to seek out his approach again from defeats that would have simply damaged him.
Few triumphs in his profession have been simple and his success over the previous 16 years has been pushed by his peerless resilience; his potential to rebound, to place himself beneath hearth as soon as extra and ultimately discover a approach by means of.
In absolutely his remaining reasonable Olympic alternative on the age of 37, Djokovic refused to let the second move him by as he produced a chic efficiency to carry off Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) in two brutal, high quality units and develop into a gold medallist finally. He’s the oldest tennis participant to win an Olympic singles gold medal, which he achieved with out dropping a set.
Whereas Djokovic had beforehand thought of his function as Serbia’s flag bearer within the opening ceremony of London 2012 the proudest second of his profession, on Sunday it modified: “This sort of supersedes all the things that I imagined, hoped, that I might expertise and that I might really feel,” he mentioned.
On this exact same court docket precisely two months in the past, he tore his meniscus throughout his French Open fourth-round match and he underwent surgical procedure a day later. His run to the Wimbledon remaining on his return was exceptional in itself, however he was then flattened by Alcaraz. In gentle of that defeat, he started the Olympic remaining because the clear underdog.
From the start of his time on Courtroom Philippe-Chatrier, nevertheless, Djokovic made it clear that this may be completely different. He flew out of the blocks, placing the ball with depth and penetration as he appeared to take the ball early and take time from the Spaniard. As Alcaraz quickly discovered his rhythm, eviscerating forehands and maddening Djokovic together with his unimaginable defence, the depth was sky excessive all through. Djokovic continued to serve extraordinarily effectively, saved Alcaraz guessing with good internet forays and confirmed impeccable shot choice.
Within the ensuing tie-break, as Alcaraz’s error rely continued to rise, at 3-3 Djokovic stormed forward with an unimaginable angled forehand return winner. He by no means appeared again, ending a masterpiece of a 92-minute set with a drop-volley winner at full stretch.
Whereas an depth drop after such a tricky set would have been logical, Djokovic refused to let up, producing an early break level on his opponent’s serve in set two. However Alcaraz matched his degree all through the set they usually reached one other tie-break. With the gold medal so shut, Djokovic threw himself at each final ball and he attacked his forehand with out hesitation. In his absolute desperation to win, he elevated his degree within the remaining stretch, taking part in a dominant tie-break to seal an unforgettable win.
“I don’t suppose I’ve ever performed, possibly, I don’t know, a couple of occasions in my life, on such a excessive degree, intensely for 3 hours, solely two units,” he mentioned.
After greeting his overwhelmed rival warmly on the internet, Djokovic collapsed to the bottom by the service line and wept tears of pleasure and reduction, his palms shaking. He ultimately returned to his seat and sobbed into his towel earlier than climbing into the group with a Serbian flag and crying on the shoulders of his household and staff members. As Djokovic tearfully celebrated, Alcaraz needed to cease his interview with Eurosport as he, too, broke down in tears. Later, Alcaraz mentioned his tears had been as a result of he felt that he had “let all of the Spanish folks down” together with his defeat. After composing himself, he expressed his satisfaction after an unimaginable week in his profession. “I believe I made them proud. I made them imagine in a sure approach and I’m proud about the way in which that I represented my flag.”
Djokovic’s triumph is a rare achievement for thus many causes. Earlier than this 12 months, he had been to the semi-finals of the Olympics on three of his 4 appearances, every run ending in an excruciating defeat. His Olympic goals had been so large that he had by no means been in a position to play together with his regular readability within the decisive moments of those occasions.
This season has additionally been extraordinarily troublesome for causes past his current harm and he had not managed to win a title all 12 months. It will have been pure for him to wonder if he had reached an inflection level in his journey and if his age was lastly catching up with him. As an alternative, his resilience has yielded certainly one of his best triumphs.
“Once I take all the things in consideration, this in all probability is the most important sporting success I’ve ever had in my profession,” he mentioned.
