In ‘Serve to Win,’ the autobiography/life-style information/cookbook authored by Novak Djokovic in 2013, someplace in between the chapters through which he offers horrifying accounts of his war-torn upbringing and prescribes consuming honey from bees that feed on the Manuka bushes of New Zealand, he reveals his favorite proverb. Roughly translated to English, it goes: “When nothing hurts, put a bit stone in your shoe and begin strolling.”
On Sunday, Djokovic accomplished the set. In a classic efficiency of brutal, exact shotmaking and the right mixture of resolute defence and calculated aggression, he defeated Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) to win the gold medal on the Paris Olympics – the one tennis achievement that has evaded a resume that accommodates 24 Majors, all 9 Masters 1000 titles, and triumphs on the ATP Finals and Davis Cup.
As the highest seed and most legendary presence on the tour, that won’t come as a complete shock. However to place the achievement, given the place his tennis has been over the past 12 months, in context; to know why he defies all conference as a tennis champion, return to his favorite proverb.
A while round final 12 months, Djokovic’s footwear grew to become a bit too comfy. The Serb received three of the 4 Majors in 2023 and reached all 4 finals. He ended all debate by turning into the outright chief within the all-time Grand Slam leaderboard, successful a minimum of three titles at every of the 4 tournaments. After reaching the very best of highs, the burning fireplace started to flicker.
Paris: Novak Djokovic of Serbia in motion in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz of Spain throughout the Males Singles gold medal match of the Tennis competitions within the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games, on the Roland Garros in Paris, France, 04 August 2024. (EPA-EFE/CAROLINE BLUMBERG VIA PTI)
Just a few pesky pebbles would make it into his boots over the following six months. After a sluggish begin to 2024, restoration from a knee harm, and subsequent surgical procedure, a number of weeks previous to Wimbledon might have been an enormous hurdle, however he responded by reaching the ultimate. Humiliation from a 16-years-younger challenger within the summit conflict might have fuelled all kinds of uncertainty, however Djokovic discovered a brand new supply of motivation to thrive on.
Adversity into metal
Few gamers, if any, have shared Djokovic’s aptitude of turning adversity into metal. The begrudgingly well mannered Parisian crowds would witness each little bit of that aptitude this previous week.
On 4 earlier makes an attempt in Beijing, London, Rio, and Tokyo, Djokovic had come shut however left with solely a single Olympic bronze. Enjoying to affix history-makers – solely Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams have received the ‘profession Golden Slam’ (all 4 Majors and Olympic gold) – the Serb produced his greatest tennis within the 12 months passed by. With revenge on his thoughts in opposition to the very best participant on the earth, he put up probably the most ruthless, medical performances he has ever performed in a ultimate.
After successful 4 Majors, together with the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back, Alcaraz’s star has risen at a tempo sooner than the hefty expectations which have adopted him ever since he grew to become a teenaged World No. 1. On Sunday, he was not even mildly off the tempo, however on an intense, high-wired afternoon, Djokovic discovered his best on the essential moments, and usually discovered one other gear to go to within the two tiebreakers, to outplay him for the win.
Paris 2024 Olympics – Tennis – Males’s Singles Gold Medal Match – Roland-Garros Stadium, Paris, France – August 04, 2024. Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain react after their match. (REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura)
This was an enthralling baseline contest; the primary set alone lasted almost 100 minutes. Not like the beleaguered straight-sets loss at Wimbledon a month in the past, Djokovic went toe-to-toe with Alcaraz from the baseline even when the Spaniard was discovering large mileage behind his forehand and transferring with velocity to cowl all corners of the courtroom.
Each gamers did not blink – Alcaraz saved 5 break factors and Djokovic saved eight – nevertheless it was the mammoth ninth recreation of the primary set through which Djokovic raised his stage, saving 5 break factors, and by no means seemed again. Because it went to a breaker, Djokovic locked down and Alcaraz let his stage fall simply sufficient for the Serb to take benefit.
Neither participant let their ranges fall an excessive amount of within the second, even because the Spaniard confronted a mountain to climb. Just a few fascinating, intense exchanges adopted and a second breaker ensued through which Alcaraz raised his baseline recreation just for Djokovic to up the ante additional and slap a number of enormous groundstrokes and see out the win.
Finally, the precision of Djokovic’s racquet – the pinpoint T-serves, the lunging forehand winners, the error-free tiebreakers – propelled him to a deserved win.
That very same obscure parlour debate could also be triggered as soon as once more, a presumption that it had been put to mattress final 12 months itself would have been honest. However by discovering his greatest tennis in opposition to the very best participant on the earth to win the one title that has eluded him, there may very well be no louder assertion of intent from Djokovic that he nonetheless belongs on the prime of the pile in males’s tennis – even when he’s competing with these nearer to his kids’s age than his. Particularly when historical past is on the road.