Destiny Fulfilled: In What Might Have Been The Match Of The Year, Novak Djokovic Takes Down Carlos Alcaraz And Finally Wins Gold At The Olympics - Except No One Watched Because NBC Didn't Televise It

Matthew Stockman. Getty Images.

Entering today, Novak Djokovic had won just about all there is when it comes to the game of tennis. All except one thing —a gold medal at the Olympics. In the past he's crumbled at this tournament, failing to even reach the finals, leaving in tears every time devastated beyond belief. At 37 years old, the 2024 Summer Games represented his last chance at the Golden Slam (win all 4 slams and a gold medal in your career). It's something he wanted BADLY. 

At the beginning of the year Djokovic made it clear that his number one priority was the gold. Slams are important, but for sure on the back burner given how many he's won and the records he has. Things got a little tricky at the French Open though after he fucked up his knee and needed surgery. While not the most serious of injuries, it was enough to doubt if he could physically pull this off. Crazy enough, he hadn't won a title all year entering this tournament. Oh and top it all off, he'd have to beat Carlos Alcaraz in the finals, the player who Novak admits is the toughest test in the sport right now. If he was to win, he'd have to play 100 times better than what he gave at Wimbledon just a month ago against Alcaraz. He entered the match as a hefty underdog by his standards (+180). 

Well, it took a shade under three hours, but Novak played his best in years to win what he desired most. Destiny fulfilled. 

It's tough to call a straight sets best of three match, the match of the year, but it really might have been. The level from both was so fucking good. Every service game was a war to hold. The shot making and grind to just win a point was off the charts. The margin for error on both sides was microscopic. Alcaraz and Djokovic had opportunities to break and distance themselves, but whenever it came down to the crucial points the server always came up with his best. 

It came down to tiebreaks, which is never something you wanna be facing Djokovic in. His ability to lock down and go to another level in tiebreaks is superhuman shit. He needed to do it twice to beat Carlos, and in the end he was just too good. 

A comp for what just happened? Brady on the Bucs beating Mahomes in the Super Bowl. Only difference is that Carlos actually showed up and gave Djokovic hell. Not his very best as he'll be kicking himself for how he played the break points, but plenty good enough to force Novak to give it everything he had. The greatest player of all time prevailed in the end and showed he's still got it. That was cool as shit to watch. 

Quick rant…It's a shame the Olympics hates promoting their games and snipes anyone who tries to post their own highlights on Twitter. All I can do is tell you how good it was, but I can't show you. Insanity. Another thing? NBC or any of the other channels that show games not televising this is legitimately jail worthy. The semi-finals of fencing? Come the fuck on. I get that this is a huge opportunity for Peacock and forcing people to watch off that platform probably led to a ton of new signups, but that was criminal. 

Lastly, people debate how important Olympic Tennis when you compare it to slams and 1000s and all that. Well, just look at what it means to the players. 

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These guys putting it all on the line for their countries was awesome to witness. Carlos will get his gold eventually. He's already the youngest olympic finalist in like over 100 years. He's got plenty ahead of him, but this one will hurt. It'll probably be good in the long run to keep himself humble, but he'll definitely have that on his mind for a bit. No shame in winning a medal for your country, hopefully doesn't keep him too down. 

We're lucky as tennis fans to have Novak be good long enough in his career to still have matches with Alcaraz like this. Full highlights here. Well worth the watch 7 minute watch. 

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I desperately need them facing off at the US Open.