Novak Djokovic finally ended his wait for Olympic gold on Sunday as he overcame Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz in the gold-medal match at Roland Garros. The Serb was already widely regarded as the best player of all time but perhaps put the debate to bed with the straight-sets victory in the French capital.

Djokovic stands alone at the top of men’s tennis with 24 Grand Slam singles titles – two more than his closest rival, Rafael Nadal, while he has also spent more weeks at number one in the world rankings than any other player.

One thing he hadn’t done up until this year was claim a gold medal for his country at the Olympics – something Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer (in doubles) had all done.

However, he added to his tennis legacy with a somewhat surprise win over Alcaraz in the French capital. Alcaraz went into the match as the favourite to claim gold, having beaten the Serb comfortably in July’s Wimbledon final, while there were doubts over Djokovic’s fitness after he seemingly aggravated a knee injury in his quarter-final victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Djokovic has been playing with strapping on his knee ever since he withdrew from the French Open in June, but showed no signs of any ailment as he produced two clutch tie-breaks to emerge victorious, winning 7-6 7-6.

While the Olympics itself does not award prize money to medallists, many of the athletes are remunerated by the countries they compete for – and Serbia is one of the most generous countries at the Games when it comes to rewarding their successful athletes with prize money.

Djokovic received £175,000 from Serbia for winning the gold medal and reportedly opted to donate that fee to humanitarian causes. Djokovic is known for his philanthropy, and he set up the Novak Djokovic Foundation in 2007 – an organisation aimed at ensuring all children in Serbia have access to pre-school education.

Writing on Instagram after beating Alcaraz, Djokovic said: “I could never give up on the dream of winning this gold medal, just as the people of Serbia have never given up on me. Together, we believed in the impossible. While I may be the one holding this medal, I want every Serbian to know that it belongs to all of us.

“Representing our nation is the greatest honour in the world. This medal, these moments, this life – none of it would have been possible without your unwavering support. This is because of you. This is for you.”

Djokovic’s relationship with his country is deeper than most, having grown up during a period of conflict for his country. Djokovic was just a young boy when he was forced to hunker down with his family in a Belgrade bomb shelter during NATO’s bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999. His emotion was evident after winning Olympic gold, as he fell to the ground in tears before embracing his family in the stands.

Novak Djokovic on Sunday became the first tennis player in a dozen years, male or female, to complete a tennis “Golden Slam,” winning all four major annual tournaments and an Olympic gold medal.

The 37-year-old Serb, considered by many the greatest male tennis player in history, defeated the young Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz to win the gold at the Paris Olympics.

Many Catholics took note of the fact that an elated Djokovic made the sign of the cross several times after winning the match — but you may also have noticed that he did the sign of the cross from right to left, rather than the typical Catholic left to right.

Djokovic is a Serbian Orthodox Christian. The sign of the cross is rich with meaning for all Christians, including Catholics, but the Orthodox practice, which is arguably more ancient, adds additional levels of meaning.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the very earliest Christian practice appears to be the tracing of the sign of the cross of one’s forehead, which later evolved into the practice of making a sign of the cross across a larger portion of the body. St. Basil (329–379) wrote that the apostles “taught us to mark with the sign of the cross those who put their hope in the Lord.”

When Catholics do the sign of the cross today, they cross themselves with their hand starting at the top, going down, and then from left to right. When Orthodox Christians do the sign of the cross, they start at the top, go down, and then from right to left.

Many Orthodox sources say part of the reason that the sign of the cross is done in this direction is because during the Orthodox Divine Liturgy — the equivalent of the Mass — the Orthodox priest does the sign of the cross from left to right, facing the people, who copy his movements in mirror image. That said, the exact reasons for the differences are ancient and not entirely clear even to the Orthodox themselves.

There’s another level of meaning in the Orthodox sign of the cross, though, that is more readily documented. The Orthodox hold their hand with the index and middle fingers and thumb together, a symbol of the three persons of the Holy Trinity — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — together as one God. The two fingers, ring and pinky, that remain down symbolize the two natures of Jesus: fully human and fully divine.

Djokovic’s Christian history

Djokovic was brought up in the Serbian Orthodox Church, which claims the majority of the country’s citizens and several million members worldwide. He grew up during a tumultuous time in the region and survived the wars between the Yugoslavian states.

In 2011, Djokovic was awarded the Serbian Orthodox Church’s highest honor “for his active love toward Mother Church, particularly fervent and persistent helping [of] the Serbian people and the sanctuaries of our Holy Church.”

He has donated several million dollars to the Serbian public health system and to charities run by the Serbian Orthodox Church.

“This is the most important title of my life, because before being an athlete, I am an Orthodox Christian,” he said upon receiving the award.

Despite Djokovic’s frequent displays of a cross necklace, performance of the sign of the cross, and talk of God, a 2015 biography of Djokovic opined that “[i]t would wrong to suggest that he is devoutly religious, but the ritualistic role the church plays in the life of Serbia is sufficiently strong that it is very much a part of his life.”

Still, the tennis champ has shown himself to be a person animated by love of neighbor. He runs the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which primarily focuses on rebuilding preschools and supporting teachers and parents of young schoolchildren. And in 2017, he opened a restaurant in Serbia that provides free food to the homeless.

Novak Djokovic was overcome with emotion after winning Olympic gold in the men’s singles tennis at the Paris Games to complete a career dream and join one of the sport’s most exclusive clubs. Djokovic’s opponent Carlos Alcaraz was left in tears after going down to to the 24-time grand slam champion 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2) in a pulsating gold medal match at Roland Garros.

They were shattering scenes for the 21-year-old Spaniard, who gave his all in one of the highest quality and closely fought men’s Olympic Games finals in recent memory. But it was Djokovic who came up clutch when it mattered most after finding another gear in both the first and second set tiebreaks to finally clinch the one missing piece from his extraordinary trophy cabinet.

The 37-year-old described winning Olympics gold as “probably the biggest sporting success” he’s achieved and “most special feeling”. And victory saw Djokovic join Serena Williams – who was watching in the stands – Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf as one of only five players to win all four slams and Olympic singles gold.

“I thought carrying the flag at the opening ceremony for my country at the 2012 Olympics was the best feeling an athlete could have until today,” Djokovic said afterwards. “Now at the age of 37 and facing a 21-year-old who is probably the best player in the world right now, winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back, I can say that this is probably the biggest sporting success I have ever had.”

Many would have been forgiven for thinking this might be Djokovic’s final Olympics, having seen his great rival Nadal farewell Roland Garros already this year. But in a bombshell announcement after his victory in the Olympics final, Djokovic said he wanted to try and defend his title at the Los Angeles Games in four years – when the Serb will be 41.

“I still want to play in Los Angeles,” he said after the match. “I enjoy playing for my country and the Olympic Games particularly and Davis Cup, being part of the team.” If anyone can defy what most consider possible it’s Djokovic, who has done so time and again on his way to just about every record in the sport.

The Serb only recently underwent surgery for a torn meniscus before the French Open, only to bounce back as a Wimbledon finalist and Olympic winner within two months, and he’s still chasing a 25th major singles title to push past Australian great Margaret Court to own the all-time record outright. And the relentless Serb admitted his passion and drive are just as strong as ever, despite finally realising his Olympic dream after first playing at the 2008 Beijing Games.

jokovic’s wife and kids were on hand to share in the celebrations with the 37-year-old in beautiful post-match scenes. As for Alcaraz though, the young Spaniard was inconsolable on the court afterwards and unable to hold back the tears as he spoke about the defeat.

“I think I put more pressure on myself because I was playing for Spain, for the Spaniards,” he said. “It was a different type of pressure… everyone in Spain wanted me to win the gold, and I wanted to win the gold as well.” “I felt that I let the Spanish people down.”

Alcaraz’s idol Nadal – who he partnered in the men’s doubles for Spain at the Olympics – was one of the first to reach out to the 21-year-old after his heartbreak. “Carlos, even though I know that today is a difficult day, value a medal that is very important for the whole country and you’ll see, in time, that for you too,” Nadal wrote on Instagram.

Alcaraz saved a break point in the second game of the match and three more in the fourth, before Djokovic responded with three of his own. Alcaraz also staved off a set point before Djokovic claimed a marathon 93-minute opener set in a dominant tiebreak. The second set followed a similar pattern, with the Spaniard saving another break in the third game before going down to Djokovic in the tiebreak again as the Serb wrote more history.

On Sunday, August 4th, we will witness a thrilling battle for the Olympic gold medal in men’s singles tennis. The legendary Novak Djokovic will face Carlos Alcaraz. The Dailysports team of analysts has prepared predictions and bets for this match.

READ MORE:Novak Djokovic matches Serena Williams, Roger Federer in rare Olympic feat

Novak Djokovic

The 37-year-old Serbian entered the Olympics as the world’s second-ranked player. This season has not been particularly favorable for Djokovic. He lost in the semifinals of his favorite Australian Open to Jannik Sinner, exited Roland Garros in the quarterfinals due to injury, and was defeated in the Wimbledon final. So far in 2024, Djokovic has yet to win a trophy.

The draw for the Olympics was quite favorable for Djokovic. However, he had to play a grand match against Rafael Nadal in the second round, which he won convincingly in straight sets. Djokovic then defeated Germany’s Dominik Koepfer, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, and comfortably beat Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in the semifinals.

Carlos Alcaraz

Alcaraz is the world’s third-ranked player. This season has been fantastic for him. After losing to Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Alcaraz went on to win two consecutive Grand Slam tournaments – Roland Garros and Wimbledon. He also triumphed at the Indian Wells Masters. Now, the young Spaniard has reached another final.

RELATED:Jannik Sinner withdraws from Paris Olympics with tonsillitis to leave Novak Djokovic as top men seed

In the semifinals, Alcaraz surprisingly easily defeated Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, winning both sets 6-1. Before that, he ousted Tommy Paul of the USA, Roman Safiullin, Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, and Lebanon’s Hady Habib. Like Djokovic, Alcaraz has not lost a set at the Olympics so far.

Interesting Facts and Head-to-Head History

• Djokovic has never won an Olympic gold medal; his only Olympic medal is a bronze from 2008.
• Alcaraz is the youngest finalist in Olympic history.
• In this year’s Wimbledon final, Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in straight sets.
• In their head-to-head matches, Alcaraz leads 4-3.

UPDATE:Novak Djokovic brutal announcement as tennis world calls out awful scenes in Wimbledon final

Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz prediction

Djokovic is an absolute legend, but Alcaraz currently looks like the strongest tennis player on the planet. My bet is that Spain will win the Olympic gold.

On July 30, the Paris Olympics will once again feature many sporting events, including men’s singles tennis. Dailysports experts have prepared their exclusive prediction for the match Novak Djokovic – Dominik Koepfer.

Novak Djokovic

For “Nole” the Olympics is the only big tournament he has never won in his career, everyone realizes that this is the last chance for the Serb to take the “gold”, previously he was a “bronze” medalist back in 2008 in Beijing.

READ MORE:Rafael Nadal Says Novak Djokovic Clear Favourite In Olympics Blockbuster

Djokovic is getting older, it’s normal, the generation of the “big three” has already disintegrated, there are literally a couple of years left to watch them play.

This year the athlete doesn’t even have any tournaments won, although at the last Wimbledon he played in the final, and at other majors he reached the late stages. Now Djokovic is 37 years old, he is the second racket of the world and the record holder in the number of slams won.

At this tournament so far no problems, in the first round defeated Ebden – 6:0, 6:1, and in the second played with Nadal himself, but the Spaniard is not the same, so he managed to win confidently 6:1, 6:4.

Dominik Koepfer

There is not much to say about the German tennis player, he has not had a bright career, and the athlete is already 30 years old. In the world ranking Koepfer is ranked 70th, which corresponds to the level of a strong middle-ranked player. The tennis player had no significant successes this year, the tournament he won in Canberra was a Challenger.

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Getting to the third round of the Olympics can already be considered a good result, Koepfer wins his matches in two sets, first he beat Raonic with great difficulty – 6:7, 7:6, 7:6, and then passed the Italian Arnaldi – 3:6, 6:2, 6:1. Miracles happen at such tournaments, but no one expects a sensation from the German.

Interesting facts about the match and history of head-to-head meetings

• The rivals played each other only once, it was four years ago at the tournament in Rome, then Kepfer lost
• in a decent fight – 3:6, 6:4, 3:6.

• UPDATE:Novak Djokovic  brutal announcement as tennis world calls out awful scenes in Wimbledon final

• Djokovic has won 12 matches out of 15 on the ground this season, Koepfer has 6 wins in 14 meetings.
• Bookmakers’ quotes: W1 – 1.03, W2 – 14.25.

Novak Djokovic vs Dominik Koepfer Prediction

No one doubts the victory of Djokovic, the main question is whether it will be quick and easy. Koepfer can impose a struggle, after all, he is an experienced player, on the ground he is not impressive this year. I’ll risk betting on a total of more than 17.5 games, the German is able to resist.

Novak Djokovic will be the favourite when they clash a

Rafael Nadal insists Novak Djokovic will be the favourite when they clash at the Paris Olympics, after the Spaniard battled to victory over Marton Fucsovics in the first round on Sunday. Nadal had left his participation in the singles in doubt until the last minute because of a thigh injury, and was made to work hard for his 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 victory. The 38-year-old — who has won 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles on the clay of Roland Garros — believes old rival Djokovic will be favourite when they meet for the 60th time.

READ MORE:Jannik Sinner withdraws from Paris Olympics with tonsillitis to leave Novak Djokovic as top men seed

“Situations are completely different for him, for me. He’s being very competitive. I was not being very competitive for the last two years, so in that case, I think probably he is the clear favourite,” said Nadal, who holds an 8-2 head-to-head advantage over the Serb at Roland Garros.

“I’m going to try my best to bring the best to the court and then let’s see how far I can go and how many problems I can create for him.”

The latest chapter of a generation-defining rivalry, and perhaps the final act, will bring Nadal and Djokovic full circle — the duo having met as teenagers in their very first meeting in the 2006 Roland Garros quarter-finals.

Outside round-robin matches in the season-ending ATP Finals, their second-round encounter at the Olympics will be the earliest they have ever met at a tournament.

“It has always been super special to play against Novak, no doubt about that,” said Nadal. “But the difference is normally we have been playing for finals or for semi-finals.

“Of course, it’s an Olympics… every match is super special. But it’s true that at the same time, almost every single match that I played against Novak, I arrive at it with a different situation that I am today.

“So that makes the match more difficult for me and more unpredictable. But, I always have hope, I always believe.”

RELATED:‘Beat the C*** Out of the Kids’ – Novak Djokovic Dubbed to Play for Another Decade by Former NFL Pro in a Mind-Boggling Analysis

‘Fighting spirit’

Nadal, a singles gold medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and doubles champion at Rio four years later, is playing just his seventh tournament of 2024.

He reached the final in Bastad last weekend but suffered a setback in training on Wednesday, jeopardising his hopes of appearing at a fifth Olympics.

Nadal teamed up with Carlos Alcaraz in the doubles on Saturday, but he had his right thigh heavily bandaged as the pair won their first-round match in straight sets.

His leg sported similar strapping against Fucsovics, but Nadal said he was feeling “good”. “Bit tired, of course. I mean, a long match, but at the same time… it was a good test,” said Nadal.

“The good thing is I was able to play at a good level of tennis for a while. That always gives hope. And then (the) negative stuff is I was not able to hold that great level.”

UPDATE:Novak Djokovic one of four big names missing as Laver Cup Team Europe line-up confirmed

Fucsovics suggested the Spaniard still had what it takes to beat Djokovic, who leads the career head-to-head 30-29.

“He was fighting until the end, so his fighting spirit is still at the top still, but he’s not at his best playing level,” said Fucsovics.

“But if he has a good day he can beat him (Djokovic) still.”

The ongoing season brought a series of struggles for Novak Djokovic. Along with failing to attain even a single title so far on his journey, the Serb met some terrible setbacks and injuries, experiencing a fair share of hardships. However, despite the concerns, the wounded lion is consistently making efforts to beat the young competitors. While it is him against the ATP star in their early 20s, an NFL pro recently came forward to drop a surprising statement.

READ MORE:Gold for Carlos Alcaraz, Paris tears for Novak Djokovic – our Olympic predictions

The debate surrounding Novak Djokovic’s ability to compete with young tennis stars is currently captivating the attention of fans and players alike. Among the open discussions, Dustin Fox, a former NFL cornerback turned businessperson and tennis enthusiast, came forward to drop his verdict on the topic as a guest on the Tennis Channel: Inside In-Podcast.

“I think Novak just rides this thing until he can’t because I mean he’ll still be really good you know and can still get in the heads. His mental game, like that dude I think can play to least 50 if he wanted to and he’d be able to beat the c**p out of these kids. I mean not like the Alcaraz of the world, but like you know some other. He’d still get to, you know, quarterfinals maybe, you know, late in his career,” Fox said, firmly believing in the strong levels that the Serb could rise up to.

Fox’s comments came just days after Novak Djokovic’s defeat against Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon finals. Alcaraz won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), and therefore claimed his second consecutive Wimbledon title. Although Djokovic saved three match points and broke Alcaraz’s serve for the first time while serving for the crown at 5-4 in the third, Alcaraz managed to rise up, finally winning the tiebreak.

RELATED:Novak Djokovic helps Mercedes George Russell longevity bid

Djokovic, who had to undergo knee surgery just over a month ago, admitted to the levels of his rival. “I wasn’t up to par. Credit to Carlos for playing some complete tennis. From the back of the court, on serve, he had it all today. I tried to push him and saved the three match points, extended the match a little bit, but it wasn’t meant to be really. He was an absolutely deserved winner today,” he said, in a post-match interview.

A majority of the players from Novak Djokovic’s peak era have either retired or are not actively participating. While the battle is currently being fought between the Serb and the young champs, Dustin Fox’s belief in Djokovic’s mental strength adds a dimension to the ongoing debate. Although there are people who still believe in the Serb’s potential to cover up, there are others who doubt his ability to stand in the competition.

Andy Roddick marks Novak Djokovic’s Wimbledon campaign as “absurd”

The whole tennis community was surprised to see Novak Djokovic’s speedy recovery. The Serb incurred a meniscus tear during his run for the Roland Garros title and therefore had to retire with disappointment and immense pain. While his entry at Wimbledon was enough of a surprise, the fact that he made it to the finals seemed to be “absurd” for many.

UPDATE:Wimbledon Men’s Day 6 Predictions Including Novak Djokovic Vs Alexei Popyrin

“Surgery, no fitness, not a lot of tennis, no matches. Finals at Wimbledon. Gave yourself a look at the basket. Props to him. Novak had no reps, no fitness, all he was trying to do was get healthy enough to play his first round and then after that, healthy enough to play second round, so on and so forth,” Andy Roddick said in a podcast.

Along with gathering the drastic events that he had to go through, the former pro also dropped a conclusion, taking a hit at the fact that he even made it to the finals. “It is absurd that Novak was able to make the finals of this event,” the American added.

It is time for Novak Djokovic to step on the red dirt once again. While it was the same arena that gave him a major scare, will he be able to regain confidence?

The big guns of men’s tennis are preparing to battle it out for the only title that will bring them no financial reward – but Olympic gold always means so much more.

The 2024 Paris Olympics are about to get underway, with Roland Garros set to look very different from the stage we are used to when it hosts the French Open each year.

READ MORE:Novak Djokovic helps Mercedes George Russell longevity bid

With new signage around the court and the Olympic rings confirming this will be a very special few days in Paris, the tennis world will hold its breath as the race for a gold medal hots up.

Here are our big five predictions for what to expect at the Olympics, with one outstanding performer the clear favourite.

ALCARAZ THE KING

Can anyone stop Carlos Alcaraz?

The answer to that question at the French Open and Wimbledon was a convincing no, as the 21-year-old Spaniard joined a select group of players who completed the clay court and grass court Grand Slam double.

Now Alcaraz will head into the Olympics as the red-hot favourite to take the gold medal, with his recent form confirming he is the man to beat.

Alcaraz beat top seed Jannik Sinner in the French Open semi-finals and then found a way past reigning Olympic champion Alexander Zverev in the final.

RELATED:Novak Djokovic one of four big names missing as Laver Cup Team Europe line-up confirmed

He then bullied Novak Djokovic into a comprehensive defeat in the Wimbledon final, confirming his status as the form player in the men’s game.

Verdict: If Alcaraz is not jaded after his heroics over the last few weeks, he should win the gold medal.

NOVAK’S FINAL MISSION 

Novak Djokovic has made no secret of his desire to win an Olympic gold medal in Paris, but he doesn’t appear to be in the form to turn his dream into a reality.

Djokovic will return to the court where he sustained a knee injury last month, which forced him pull out of the French Open prior to his quarter-final match.

Surgery on that knee followed and while he fought back impressively to reach the Wimbledon final, he was clearly a long ay short of his best as Alcaraz condemned him to a crushing defeat in the final.

His form of 2024 does not suggest Djokovic’s Olympic dream will be realised in his final Games, but this champion can never be written off.

Verdict: Djokovic admits he is not playing at the same level as Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner and he needs huge upturn to challenge for the gold medal.

SINNER’S CHALLENGE

World No 1 Jannik Sinner has already secured glory while playing for Italy, with his Davis Cup heroics in Malaga last November including a win against Djokovic in the semi-final.

He should have recovered from the illness that hampered him in his Wimbledon quarter-final against Daniil Medvedev, but there have been a few cracks appearing in his armour in recent weeks.

Sinner’s defeat against Alcaraz at the French Open confirmed he may be a step behind the Spaniard right now and he has not always enjoyed his best form on clay courts.

Verdict: A medal for Sinner, but not the gold.

THE DEFENDING CHAMPION

Alexander Zverev should be a real contender in Paris.

The German claimed a gold medal in the 2020 Games and will fancy his chances of a repeat on a Paris court where he has played some of best tennis.

UPDATE:Wimbledon Men’s Day 6 Predictions Including Novak Djokovic Vs Alexei Popyrin

In best-of-three-set matches, Zverev can beat anyone in the world if his monster serve if firing and it will be fascinating to see where he is positioned in the draw now that he is in the top four of the ATP rankings.

Verdict: The biggest challenger to Alcaraz.

WHO TO LOOK OUT FOR

France’s Arthur Fils is a player to watch, after his impressive run of results in the ATP 500 event in Hamburg.

Then there is USA’s Taylor Fritz, who will fancy his chances of challenging for a medal after a fine run of form, with his performances on clay courts this year adding to his confidence.

There will also be a lot of eyes on Spain’s Rafael Nadal, after he showed an encouraging return of form in a tournament in Bastad, Sweden over the last few days.

A medal in singles may be too much to ask for Nadal, but he should form a potent partnership with Alcaraz in the doubles event.

Casper Ruud has to be a contender as he has an impressive record on the French Open clay, but his ability to get over the winning line when it matters most remains a concern.