Novak Djokovic's tedious wait for Olympic glory was rewarded with the gold – his first ever – after subduing Carlos Alcaraz in Paris 2024.
Novak Djokovic has scaled every mountain he could to be on the pinnacle of tennis glory.
Only one remains towering ahead of him – that of the Olympics which he tried to conquer but failed, except for a bronze finish in his debut in 2008.
Today, Aug. 4, was the exception.
Novak Djokovic triumphs in the Olympics after a 16-year wait. | Photo (c) International Tennis Federation
Djokovic subdued young Spanish warrior Carlos Alcaraz, 7-6(3), 7-6(2), to seize his first-ever gold medal in the multi-sports spectacle in Paris 2024 at the Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Djokovic thus tipped the balance of their head-to-head towards his favor, 4-3, in an all-important match that also made him just the fifth player, man or woman, to complete a Career Golden Slam.
[WATCH: Novak Djokovic claims first-ever Olympic gold after edging Carlos Alcaraz | Paris 2024 highlights]
Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams have previously achieved the feat of winning all four majors and an Olympic singles gold medal in their career.
At 37 years and 74 days, Djokovic became the oldest tennis gold medalist in the Games since 1988.
Novak Djokovic does it for Serbia. | Photo (c) International Tennis Federation
Only tiebreaks in both sets separated the fierce competitors, whose rivalry has captivated the tennis world in the past two years.
It was a tight battle from the beginning, with neither player giving way.
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A total of 13 break points, eight raised by Alcaraz and Djokovic, five, were all saved in a set that featured a 15-minute ninth game where the Serb erased five break points.
As the 24-time Grand Slam champion has proven time and again, he is ready to raise his level at the biggest of moments as he silenced Alcaraz to shatter a three-all count in the tiebreak and take the set.
Both players held fast to their service games in the second, with Djokovic only getting the only look at a break which he failed to convert.
[WATCH: Nesthy Petecio assured of podium finish after dominating China's Xu Zichun in quarters bout | Paris 2024 highlights]
Just as in the opening set, the World No. 2 Serb turned it up a notch in the tiebreak, conjuring winners to break away from a 2-all deadlock.
In the end, it was Djokovic who was triumphant, but still shared a piece of history with his foe who became the youngest Olympic silver medalist in tennis at 21 years old.
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It was an eventful last two months for the World No. 3 Spanish prodigy, who just completed a Roland Garros-Wimbledon double that hiked his Grand Slam tally to four.
Paris 2024 men's tennis singles medalists Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Lorenzo Musetti pose for a selfie. | Photo (c) Roland Garros
Lorenzo Musetti, who gave Italy its first tennis medal since 1924 after winning the bronze against Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime via a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 victory a day prior, later joined Djokovic and Alcaraz in the trophy ceremony.