Novak Djokovic's Gold Medal Matters More Than You Think
Novak Djokovic's defeat of Carlos Alcaraz in the final round of the Paris 2024 Olympics matters much more than you think. The timely encounter between the two stars—one old and seasoned, the other young and up-and-coming—might affect the history of tennis long after the now-unofficial goat has retired.
Djokovic As The Current GOAT
Djokovic has cemented himself as the greatest tennis player ever after Roger Federer’s retirement in 2022 and Rafael Nadal’s perpetual struggle with injuries. The Serbia native won Wimbledon in 2022 and the U.S. Open and Australian Open in 2023. He holds the most Grand Slam titles, with 24, while Nadal and Federer are respectively close behind with 22 and 20. He’s found most of his success on hard courts but has proven that he can slide on clay at the French Open and bend low to scoop balls off the grass at Wimbledon. Despite having left Federer and Nadal in the dust of the greatest-of-all-time race, another beloved star may threaten Djokovic’s claim to the crown.
Alcaraz's Rise
The 21-year-old Alcaraz has already won the U.S. Open once and Wimbledon twice. His speed and ability to chase down would-be winners, coupled with his charming personality, have made him tennis’ brightest star. He’s already proven himself on the biggest stages, and his youth means he has about two decades left to catch Djokovic.
This matchup at the Olympics felt very similar to the Tom Brady vs. Patrick Mahomes encounter at the Super Bowl in 2021. Brady’s victory gives him a line of defense against anyone who claims that Mahomes is the better player.
It would not shock me if Alcaraz made the case for the greatest tennis player of all time over the next two decades.
If he does, however, let’s not forget who won the Gold Medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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