Novak Djokovic needed to play one of the best matches of his life today to be able to defeat Carlos Alcaraz and win the Olympic gold medal. So that’s what he did.
It was a masterpiece performance by the 24 time Grand Slam champion but four time Olympic gold, I hate to say, failure. This time in his fifth Olympic Games, Djokovic looked as great as ever and prevailed in an epic, near three hour marathon over the 21 year old Spaniard 76 76.
These two tennis titans created tennis magic today, with their precision shotmaking, phenomenal mobility, marvelous touch and feel, and one of a kind courage and bravery under pressure. The final shot of the duel was an inside-in forehand ripper into the corner which Alcaraz just watched whiz by. Djokovic’s reaction looked like a combination of joy, shock, disbelief and gratitude. After embracing his rival, Djokovic then walked back out on the court, crossed himself and dropped to his knee and bowed to his God, apparently weeping.
The match was one of the defining highlights moments of tennis history, a highly charged, excited full stadium in Court Philippe Chatrier and a quality of genius tennis which may rank as one of the highest level matches ever played, on the level of the Cincinnati final last summer, also contested by these same two combatants, who despite the 16 year age difference, have created one of the compelling rivalries in ATP history.
For Djokovic finally it’s final mission accomplished. Or so it may seem. Djokovic is not expected to retire just yet and now that he has zero pressure and there is nothing left to prove or win, now Djokovic will be able to play totally freely.
As the most decorated and accomplished champion in tennis history, it’s very possible he can capture a few more Grand Slam titles, if he still feels the drive and motivation to do so. Djokovic now leads the head to head vs Carlos 4-3.
Carlos Alcaraz · Novak Djokovic · Olympics
2 comments
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Cory · August 4, 2024 at 4:43 pm
I think he ends up with 25-26… U? if he gets the US Open this year, he may get 26 sometime next year… I still like him on grass, is that his best surface statistically? but I’ll say 25 is the number. He probably has another 2 full years of top 10 type stuff but that probably doesn’t matter to him… it’s about being in the top 3 and taking home the 1000s and slams. As he has already stated he will be extra picky about which tourneys to play, which meand he probably plays less than 20 a year which means he foregoes points.
Who was it that said tennis is boxing on a tennis court? That’s stuck with me. Today we saw boxing.
Scoop Malinowski · August 4, 2024 at 5:03 pm
Cory, 25 is the right number, the symmetry of it, it’s the perfect total that is beyond the reach of all. But there could be five or six more if he really wants it. I think the fire could go out a bit after this. Nothing can top this. He just said this is his biggest sporting success, all things considered. But he could also relax and just flow now. The next two years will be fascinating. The quote I think you may be thinking of was by Tracy Austin on USA Network in the 90s, she said, “Tennis is a fistfight without the fists.”