Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz embraced some of the most thrilling best-of-three ATP finals. A year after the Cincinnati title match cracker, two great rivals fought for the Olympic Games gold medal in Paris five weeks ago.
The more experienced player prevailed over the young gun 7-6, 7-6 after two hours and 50 minutes, conquering an elusive title at 37 and adding the missing piece to his GOAT puzzle with a career Golden Slam. Like many others, David Ferrer liked what he saw from two fearsome competitors.
The retired Spaniard praised both players and Novak’s high intensity, especially at the pivotal moments. While he rooted for Alcaraz, Ferrer admitted Djokovic fully deserved the win and the gold medal. It was a clash of the oldest and youngest Olympic Games finalists, and they gave the crowd on packed Court Phillipe-Chatrier something to cheer about.
Novak and Carlos failed to score a break, defending all 14 break points (13 in the opener) and staying neck and neck.
The Serb claimed 11 points more than the Spaniard thanks to a rock-solid performance in both tie breaks.
Nothing separated them in the shortest and most advanced exchanges, and the veteran built the advantage in the mid-range rallies. Both players had more winners than unforced errors, with the young performing as the more aggressive player.
However, Djokovic caused almost 50 mistakes from Alcaraz, taming his strokes nicely and sealing the deal in straight sets. Novak gave everything to stay in touch in the opening set. He denied eight break points in two challenging service games and missed five chances on the return before taking the tie break after over an hour and a half of a titanic battle.
The veteran held in the first game of the encounter and created a break chance in the next one after the young gun’s backhand error. The Spaniard saved it with a drop shot winner and caused the rival’s mistake to level the score at 1-1.
David Ferrer praised Novak Djokovic following the Olympic Games gold medal.
World no. 2 held in the third game and fired a return winner in the next one for three break points.
The four-time Major winner saved them in style and held for 2-2 with a volley winner, avoiding an early setback. Djokovic struggled behind the initial shot in the fifth game, offering his opponent three break points. The 37-year-old denied them with service winners and closed the game after a smash winner.
Alcaraz held at love in the eighth game and made an ultimate push on the return in the next one. Novak played against five break points after Carlos’ winners, feeling the pressure but keeping his composure. The 24-time Major winner denied them, including a volley winner on the last one, before holding with an unreturned serve for 5-4 after 65 minutes!
They served well in the next two games, with the Spaniard seeking another fine hold at 5-6. However, he netted a routine volley and faced a set point. Alcaraz erased it with a forehand winner and landed a powerful serve to introduce a tie break.
They served well early on, firing winners and standing neck and neck at 3-3. Djokovic earned a mini-break with a short return winner and grabbed two points on serve for 6-3 and three set points.
The Serb attacked on the first and wrapped up the set with a volley winner, building the advantage after an hour and 32 minutes. Carried by this boost, the veteran served well in the second set and kept his rival away from break chances.
Novak held at love with a forehand down the line winner in the second game and earned a break chance at 1-1 after the opponent’s forehand error. The 21-year-old saved it with a forehand crosscourt winner and painted another for a 2-1 lead.
Djokovic forgot about that chance and produced a hold at love in the fourth game with a service winner. They served well in the following games, with Alcaraz moving 4-3 in front after an unreturned serve in the seventh. The Spaniard reached a deuce on the return in the next one for the first time since the ninth game of the first set.
The veteran stayed composed and closed the game with an unreturned serve, locking the result at 4-4. Carlos held at love at 5-5, and Novak added four winners to his tally in the next one for 6-6, introducing the second tie break.
Djokovic kicked it off with a forehand crosscourt winner, earning a mini-break and moving 2-0 in front. Alcaraz reduced the deficit with a mini-break in the third point and cracked a forehand winner for 2-2. The Serb responded with a forehand winner in the fifth point and cemented the mini-break with a smash winner that sent him 4-2 in front.
The Spaniard missed a forehand to fall further behind and netted a backhand, offering his rival four match points. World no. 2 hammered a forehand down the line winner at 6-2, taking five consecutive points and becoming the Olympic Games champion at 37.
“It was a tight and challenging match. Novak presented an incredibly high level, serving well in the pivotal moments. Tennis-wise, it was an incredible match, and Novak completely deserved the win,” David Ferrer said.
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