World No. 2 Novak Djokovic secured a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics by defeating Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz 7-6, 7-6 in the men’s singles final. With this victory, Djokovic joins the ranks of legends Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi as the only third male tennis player to achieve the ‘Career Golden Slam.
Novak Djokovic ended his lengthy quest for an Olympic gold medal by clinching victory in the men’s singles final on Sunday, August 4. The tennis legend triumphed over world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz with a thrilling 7-6, 7-6 win, marking his first Olympic gold after a 16-year wait.
This historic win earned Djokovic a place in the elite group of players who have achieved a ‘Career Golden Slam,’ a distinction reserved for those who have secured all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold in singles. The match, held at the iconic Philippe-Chatrier court, was a captivating spectacle as both Djokovic and Alcaraz competed in their inaugural Olympic finals.
At 37, Djokovic became the oldest player to win an Olympic gold in tennis since 1988 and the oldest to win in the men’s singles category. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest finalist in Olympic history. Djokovic’s victory also solidifies his status as the oldest player to win an Olympic gold in men’s tennis.
With this gold medal and 24 Grand Slam singles titles, Djokovic has achieved virtually everything in tennis. The only other players to have achieved a Career Golden Slam are Steffi Graf (1988), who was the first to do so, Andre Agassi (1999), Rafael Nadal (2010), and Serena Williams (2012), who is the only player to accomplish this feat in both singles and doubles. Alcaraz, despite his impressive four Grand Slam titles at just 21, still needs an Australian Open title and an Olympic gold to join these legends, but his future looks promising.
Novak Djokovic’s Career Achievements:
- Olympic Gold: 1
- Olympic Medals: 2
- Australian Open Titles: 10
- Wimbledon Titles: 7
- US Open Titles: 4
- French Open Titles: 3
- ATP Finals Titles: 7
- ATP Titles: 98
- Year-end No. 1 Finishes: 8
- Weeks at No. 1: 428 (record)
After a challenging 2024 season, which included near misses at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, Djokovic’s win provides a significant boost as he continues his pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title. He will next compete at the Cincinnati Open, an ATP 1000 event, ahead of the US Open, which begins on August 26.
