Novak Djokovic backs Carlos Alcaraz for future Olympic success after defeat at Paris 2024 - 'Your gold will come'
Published 05/08/2024 at 15:55 GMT+1
Novak Djokovic won the Olympic men's singles title in Paris with a hard-fought two-set victory over Carlos Alcaraz at Roland-Garros. The Spaniard was emotional following his defeat, but Djokovic has reached out to him on social media to suggest there will be plenty more success coming his way. Their attention will now turn to the US Open - which gets underway in New York on August 26.
Overcome Alcaraz forced to walk away from interview after Djokovic loss in Olympic final
Video credit: TNT Sports
Novak Djokovic has backed Carlos Alcaraz for future Olympic success after beating the Spaniard in the gold medal match at Paris 2024.
For Djokovic, the 7-6(3) 7-6(2) victory at Roland Garros completed a career golden slam - which is when a player wins all four Grand Slams and becomes Olympic champion.
Alcaraz, 21, was in tears at the end of the match after failing to follow up his Wimbledon final win against Djokovic with another downing of the 24-time major winner.
Addressing Alcaraz on social media, Djokovic said: “Another epic final. El clasico.
“Congratulations to you and your team for an excellent Olympics. Considering your age, your energy and the way you play, you probably have 20 more Olympics ahead of you.
“Your gold will come. Until next time, amigo.”
Alcaraz has already won three out of the four Grand Slams in his nascent career, with the Australian Open trophy the only one evading him so far.
He will be aiming to add to his 2022 US Open success when the final major of the year gets underway at Flushing Meadows later this month.
Djokovic’s victory in Paris ended a long hunt for Olympic glory.
He won bronze in Beijing in 2008, placed fourth at London 2012 and Tokyo 2020, and was knocked out in the first round by Juan Martin del Potro in Rio in 2016.
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'Biggest achievement in my career' - Djokovic basks in gold medal after beating Alcaraz
Video credit: SNTV
So, despite having so much career success, his win in the French capital meant as much to him as anything that has gone before.
He told Eurosport: “I mean I believed I could win, but to actually win it… To win Olympic gold at 37, I finally did it. Most of all, it’s my country.
“The pride of playing for Serbia. I know Carlos and Rafa love to play for Spain, Andy [Murray] loves to play for Great Britain. Roger [Federer] for Switzerland. Alex Zverev won at Tokyo for Germany.
“You saw the reactions of all these guys when they win; it’s something special.”
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‘Wow!’ - Djokovic produces masterful winner to wrestle control of Alcaraz match at crucial point
Video credit: TNT Sports
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer
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