Djokovic fights off Alcaraz to finally strike Olympic tennis gold

Novak Djokovic completed a career "Golden Slam" as the 37-year-old Serbian tennis legend fought off Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in a magnificent Olympic men's singles final at Roland Garros on Sunday.

After heartbreak in Beijing, London, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo, Djokovic simply would not be denied the one title that had eluded him so long, winning 7-6(3), 7-6(2) in front of an enthralled crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Top seed Djokovic had to deliver one of the finest performances of his career to deny a man 16 years his junior, and become only the fifth player to win all four singles Grand Slams and the Olympic title during their careers.

"It was an incredible fight and I had to play my best tennis," an emotional Djokovic said at center court as flag-waving Serbian fans sang his name. "I put my heart, my soul, everything to win gold. I did it for my country first, for Serbia."

Amid a raucous atmosphere, with soccer-style chants shattering the calm of the adjacent Bois de Boulogne, neither player took a backward step in a ferocious contest.

The first set alone lasted one hour and 33 minutes as the two grappled for control in a series of spellbinding games, one at 4-4 in which Djokovic fended off five break points.

Alcaraz blinked first in the tiebreak to allow Djokovic to move ahead, and when another tiebreak was required to decide the second set, Djokovic again found inspiration, moving 6-2 in front and sealing victory with a stunning forehand winner.

Djokovic roared to the sky and after consoling a crestfallen Alcaraz at the net, then fell to his knees and sobbed into the Parisian clay in the center of the court, before climbing into the crowd where he was swamped by his family, friends and team.

While Djokovic became the oldest Olympic singles champion since tennis returned to the Games in 1988, the 21-year-old Alcaraz looked inconsolable after failing to add the gold medal to this year's French Open and Wimbledon crowns.

"I think I did a really great tournament, I think I did a really great match," the four-time Grand Slam champion said. "Obviously in front of me, I had a really hungry Novak."

He knew Paris was his last realistic chance to fill the remaining space in a bulging trophy cabinet that showcases 24 Grand Slam titles. And he truly earned it – overturning a crushing loss to Alcaraz three weeks ago in the Wimbledon final – to become the first man to win the Olympic singles title without dropping a set.

Djokovic joins an elite group of Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams, the latter watching from the front row, in the "Golden Slam" club, and many will say this settled the G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time) argument once and for all.

It takes something pretty special to upstage track and field's men's 100 meter final that would get underway a few hours later at the Stade de France, but this near three-hour red-dirt duel arguably came close.

The opening four games spanned 30 mesmerizing minutes, every rally a battle of skill and will. Alcaraz saved three break points in the fourth game, and looked menacing as he threw everything in his arsenal at Djokovic with the Serb serving at 4-4.

Several times Djokovic could only smile at the athleticism of his opponent, who piled on the pressure to earn five break points, and somehow he survived.

Alcaraz saved a set point at 5-6 but the Spaniard's level dipped in the tiebreak and Djokovic pounced to grab the lead. Sensing his moment, Djokovic's intensity climbed even higher deep into the second set, but Alcaraz hung on.

Djokovic was relentless thoughout and an outrageous forehand winner at 2-2 in the tiebreaker snapped Alcaraz's resistance and the end came quickly as the Serbian claimed the 99th, and perhaps most valuable, title of his glittering career.