Novak Djokovic began the year as the player with the most Grand Slams, most weeks at No. 1, and most Masters 1000s. But the one title missing from his massive trophy cabinet was an Olympic Gold Medal.
In the toughest season of his career, Djokovic delivered the story of the season in remarkable fashion. Reaching the Olympic singles final guaranteed Serbia its best-ever podium finish in tennis, and he scooped his first Gold Medal on his fifth participation.
Djokovic’s thrilling and memorable 7-6 7-6 win over the indefatigable Carlos Alcaraz is already lauded as the match of the year. From a spectacle standpoint, it was a match that set pulses racing. It was nerve-shredding drama until the final point. Even the top seed did not imagine he had the match won at 6-3 in the second set tie-break with multiple match points.
Reaction to Djokovic’s win almost instantly hit the internet, as players (active and retired) and prominent journalists weighed in to congratulate him on putting a capstone to his glittering career.
Players And Pundits React To Djokovic’s Historic Olympic Gold Medal Win
Rafael Nadal cheered for countryman Alcaraz to bring home the Gold Medal but showered his old rival with praise after he became the sixth tennis player to win a “Golden Slam.” The 22-time Grand Slam champion posted on his Instagram stories, “Congrats, Novak, on completing the Golden Slam and being able to achieve what you wanted. Well done.”
Djokovic’s former coach, Boris Becker, was among the first to congratulate him on X (formerly Twitter). The 56-year-old wrote, “Very emotional scenes from Nole! Celebrating with his family and team this astonishing win at 37 … Idemooo @Serbia @Olympics.”
Former World No. 1 Andy Roddick wrote on X, “The willpower. Cant explain the effort I just witnessed from Nole. GOAT. To get one last chance, tell everyone what your priority is, and the deliver against the current best. Emotional stuff. Lucky to see it. Props.”
Former World No. 4 Greg Rusedski opined that Djokovic has now settled the GOAT debate after winning the last big title on offer: “Novak Djokovic has now won everything there is to win in tennis. The debate is over now about who the GOAT is!”
Mardy Fish also concurred that Djokovic has won whatever there is to win in tennis, writing, “The Only thing missing in Novak’s trophy case is Gold…That’s it for me… Novak Djokovic, the undisputed GOAT of the tennis court.”
Veteran journalist Jon Wertheim believes Djokovic’s ability to elevate his game borders on “supernatural” and “extraordinary” and that only NBA legend Michael Jordan comes close. He wrote, “Djokovic’s ability to elevate his play for the biggest occasions verges on the supernatural…Maybe Jordan going 6-0 in NBA Finals comes close, but this is just extraordinary…#Paris2024″
Djokovic's ability to elevate his play for the biggest occasions verges on the supernatural…Maybe Jordan going 6-0 in NBA Finals comes close, but this is just extraordinary… #Paris2024
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) August 4, 2024
Prominent Portuguese reporter Jose Morgado summarized Djokovic’s 2024 season and career in three lines: “One of the biggest matches of his career. One of the best performances of his career. One of the biggest wins of his career.”
Tennis commentator Mark Petchey termed Djokovic’s achievement as “phenomenal,” writing on X, “In a career of unreal achievements that may well be his greatest. The boy from Kopaonik in the mountains has scaled every single tennis peak. He stands alone. Believe in the possible. Just phenomenal.”
In a career of unreal achievements that may well be his greatest.
The boy from Kopaonik in the mountains has scaled every single tennis peak. He stands alone.
Believe in the possible.
Just phenomenal. @DjokerNole
— Mark Petchey (@_markpetchey) August 4, 2024
Djokovic has always mentioned that playing in Serbian colors adds a lot more pressure than playing as an individual athlete. But his resilience was on show. And 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert led the choir of appreciation towards the 37-year-old. She wrote, “Novak….. His love for the game and his country is unprecedented. The strength of his mind is incomparable. His GOAT status is cemented. So happy for him… @DjokerNole @Olympics.”
Novak….. His love for the game and his country is unprecedented. The strength of his mind is incomparable. His GOAT status is cemented. So happy for him… @DjokerNole @Olympics
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) August 4, 2024
Tributes poured not just from those within the tennis community but also outside it. American actor Matthew McConaughy is an ardent supporter of the Serb and appears to have had his eyes locked in the men’s final. He wrote shortly after, “GOAT wins GOLD. congratulations @DjokerNole.”
Main Photo Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
