Have Federer, Nadal, Murray and even Djokovic passed the torch to this new generation of tennis players?
After a 16-year wait, Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic finally saw one of his biggest dreams become reality. On August 4, he bested Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz to win the coveted gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
With his gold finish, he is only the fifth player in history to complete a Career Golden Slam. Djokovic now stands alongside fellow tennis greats Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, and Serena Williams, who have also won all four majors and an Olympic singles gold medal.
In an intense match at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Roland Garros, Djokovic played one of his best career games. The 24-time Grand Slam champion proved he was worth every trophy on his mantel, not letting Alcaraz win easy, calling the match “El Clasico” on X.
“Djokovic proved, once again, why he is the most loved bad guy in tennis,” says avid tennis player, and YDD System nutrition and fitness coach Paolo Cabalfin. “He showed the physical and, more importantly. the mental strength needed to beat a rampaging beast in Carlos Alcaraz.”
Perhaps it was payback after losing the recent Wimbledon finals to the younger four-time Grand Slam-winning player. In the same post on X, Djokovic did praise Alcaraz for his tenacity, congratulating him on a strong game, and that “Considering your age, your energy, and the way you play, you probably have 20 more Olympics ahead of you. Your gold will come….” Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti brought home the bronze medal in the Men’s Singles category, earning his country their first tennis medal since 1924.
Beyond the medals, Djokovic’s place in Olympic history is aligned with Alcaraz. At 37, he is the oldest gold medalist in tennis since 1988, while his opponent, at 21 years old, is the youngest to win a silver medal in the same category.
Beyond the medals, Djokovic’s place in Olympic history is aligned with Alcaraz. At 37, he is the oldest gold medalist in tennis since 1988, while his opponent, at 21 years old, is the youngest to win a silver medal in the same category. Djokovic also won a bronze medal in his Olympic debut in Beijing in 2008, already establishing his place among the GOAT in sports. News reports state that he is determined to defend his title in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, USA.
Another tennis player who made waves during the Olympics was Brit Andy Murray who played alongside fellow Englishman Dan Evans. They lost the tennis doubles game at the quarter-finals mark to the American duo Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul. Murray announced his retirement from the sport after the loss, declaring on X he “never even liked tennis anyway.”
Top seed Rafael Nadal also alluded to the possibility of retirement when his hopes for a second gold were dashed by Djokovic in the second round of the Men’s Singles category. He had hoped that his team-up with fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, dubbed “Nadalcaraz,” would carry them to the top of the Men’s Doubles category, but lost out in the quarterfinals category.
With Roger Federer stepping away from tennis in September 2022, the retirement of Murray and the pending retirement of Nadal could mean a possible changing of the guard. While Djokovic has made no indication of putting down his racket, having achieved the Career Golden Slam is the cherry on top of an already storied career. As of 2024, Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer are the top three with the most Grand Slam wins in tennis history, surpassing even the likes of Bjorn Borg and Andre Agassi.
With Roger Federer stepping away from tennis in September 2022, the retirement of Murray and the pending retirement of Nadal could mean a possible changing of the guard.
What the Paris Olympics has shown is that players like Carlos Alcaraz are ready to step out into the court to slam and serve their way to tennis glory. At only 21 years old, he is already ranked the world’s no. 3. And he’s got the stats to prove it!
Since going pro in 2018, he has won four Grand Slam titles, making him not only the youngest player to do so, but also in the least number of games at 69. He bested even the big three—Federer who won it at 23 in 79 games, Nadal at age 22 in 81 games, and Djokovic at 24 and in 134 games! Even Alcaraz’s winning percentage clocks in at 85.5%.
“Carlos Alcaraz is the next generation of tennis. He is the right blend of precision, power, explosiveness, and a calm under pressure that is well beyond his years,” says Cabalfin. “The perfect hybrid of Djokovic and Nadal.”
In the same class as Alcaraz is Jannik Sinner, 22, ranked by ATP as world’s no. 1 in men’s singles. Despite having only one Grand Slam title under his belt, he has racked up enough points to inch past Djokovic on the list. Sinner is also the first Italian player to occupy the top spot on the list. Unfortunately, he had to sit out the Paris Olympics due to illness.
Much like they do at the beginning and the end of the Olympics, could Federer, Nadal, Murray, and even Djokovic, be ready to pass the torch to this new generation of tennis players? Athletes who, much like them, step out onto the court, racket in hand, armed with nerves of steel and a razor sharp focus on the ball.
For the likes of Alcaraz and Skinner, their stats prove that they have what it takes to surpass even the greatest tennis players of all time. Then again, isn’t that what Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic did when they got into the game?
One thing is for certain though. When people talk about sports history, Djokovic will always have Paris.
