Novak Djokovic achieved what he described as the biggest accomplishment of his career on Sunday, securing the Olympic singles gold medal at his fifth attempt by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets, 7-6(3), 7-6(2). This victory allowed the 37-year-old Serb to complete his career Golden Slam and marked his first trophy in eight months.

Djokovic's remarkable win at Roland Garros came without dropping a single set throughout the tournament. At 37, he became the oldest man to win the Olympic singles title since tennis was reinstated at the Games in 1988. This triumph was particularly significant as it came only 21 days after a heavy loss to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final and two months after undergoing knee surgery.

Reflecting on his journey, Djokovic said, "I won the bronze in my first Olympic Games (2008) and ever since then failed to win the medal and played three out of four Olympic Games in semi-finals and couldn't overcome that obstacle. And then now at age 37, with a 21-year-old that is probably the best player in the world right now, winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back and playing incredible tennis. When I take everything into consideration, this probably is the biggest sporting success I've ever had in my career."

The 24-time Grand Slam champion displayed a vintage performance to fend off Alcaraz. After sealing the match with a forehand winner, Djokovic was overcome with emotion, shedding tears on the court before climbing into the stands to embrace his family and team.

"Until today I thought that carrying the Serbian flag at the 2012 opening ceremony in London was the best feeling that an athlete could have," Djokovic said. "This kind of supersedes everything that I imagined, that I hoped that I could experience and that I could feel."

Although Djokovic did not rule out participating in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, he acknowledged that the prospect of Paris being his last chance at gold had fueled his determination. "I was ready for this tournament and I didn't drop a set the entire tournament," he said. "I knew in the opening two rounds the way I was playing that this is my chance. If it's ever going to be, it's going to be now. When I qualified for the finals, I felt a big relief because that's the hurdle I wasn't able to surpass. I did celebrate like I won the tournament. But of course, I wanted gold, and I knew that I would have to climb the highest mountain there is at the moment, playing Alcaraz."

The match, characterized by its stunning quality and intensity, saw Djokovic save eight break points. He described the contest as one of the most challenging he had ever experienced. "I don't think I've ever played, maybe a few times in my life, such a high level for three hours for only two sets," Djokovic said. "Credit to him, congratulations to him for a great tournament, great fighting spirit."

This victory not only added to Djokovic's illustrious career but also underscored his resilience and enduring prowess in the world of tennis.