Novak Djokovic proudly wears his Olympic gold medal during a night out in Paris with actor Damson Idris following his historic Golden Slam win

Novak Djokovic proudly donned his Olympic golden badge arsenic he enjoyed a nighttime retired successful Paris conscionable hours aft his historical triumph astatine nan 2024 Paris Olympics connected Sunday.

The Serbian couldn't return nan grin disconnected his look arsenic he headed to his ceremony statement astatine Siena edifice successful nan French superior pursuing his triumph against Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz.

Novak became only nan 5th tennis subordinate to complete nan profession Golden Slam - Wimble, nan French, US and Australian opens and an Olympic gold. 

And nan tennis prima surely wanted to outcry his triumph from nan rooftops happily donned his shiny caller medallion astir his neck. 

It appeared to beryllium a star-studded evening arsenic Novak was joined astatine nan celebrations by British actor Damson Idris.

While basketball prima Jayson Tatum was besides successful attendance. 

Novak, who donned a brownish polo top, tan trousers and achromatic trainers for nan occasion, was seen wrong nan edifice surrounded by pals.

He was earlier seen being shouted connected by a horde of fans arsenic he made his measurement wrong while clutching nan Serbian flag.

It comes aft he cried tears of joyousness connected nan reddish clay of Roland Garros arsenic he yet became an Olympic champion – beating Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-2) – and frankincense nan last omission from nan astir broad CV tennis has known is filled.

It was a compelling duel successful beforehand of a 15,000-strong crowd. And, aft 2hr 50min, it was difficult not to consciousness sympathy for nan loser, if he tin called beryllium such, for Alcaraz was a leader nary matter that his metallic badge was of small contiguous consolation.

The 21-year-old cried, too, but for much achy reasons than his vanquisher, though his chance should travel again.

You couldn’t committedness that of Novak. He is 37 now and will beryllium 41 successful Los Angeles in 2028. His realisation of a finite deadline nary uncertainty went into nan mode of his celebrations.

After he picked himself disconnected nan clay, he sat successful his chair and wept earlier taking nan Serbian emblem he had been handed. He climbed into nan stands of Court Philippe-Chatrier to hug his wife, Jelena, and daughter, Tara, six. 

Tara whitethorn not beryllium capable to sorb nan afloat grade of her father’s accomplishment yet, but she tin beryllium proud that he stands arsenic 1 of only 5 greats to person pulled disconnected nan profession ‘Golden Slam’ of Wimbledon and nan French, US and Australian Opens – and Olympic gold. 

Steffi Graf, successful 1998, Andre Agassi, completed successful 1999, Rafael Nadal, successful 2010, and Serena Williams, successful 2012, are nan others.

‘Three retired of 4 Olympic Games, I mislaid successful nan semi-finals. I won a bronze badge successful Beijing. I carried nan emblem for Serbia successful 2012, successful London, which was 1 of nan champion feelings I ever had successful my life.

‘I didn’t cognize until coming that there’s moreover a amended emotion – winning a golden for your country.

‘This supersedes everything that I’ve ever felt connected nan tennis court. It’s unthinkable joy.’

Remarkably, Djokovic triumphed contempt damaging his meniscus during nan French Open successful June. He wore strapping connected his correct knee passim nan Olympic tournament.

But alternatively than having a afloat surgical repair, which involves stitching nan damaged area backmost together, followed by weeks successful a knee brace, he had nan area revenge down pinch a ‘duckbill punch’ tool.

He needed curen for a flare-up present successful his quarter-final triumph complete Stefanos Tsitsipas. A person of mounting caller records, thing would easy person stopped him. Anyway, he is now moving acold much easy than successful nan Wimbledon last erstwhile Alcaraz made ray activity of him.

On Sunday, it was gruelling for them both. Neither collapsed nan other’s service once, contempt break points galore. It was that tight.

With his inventiveness, youthfulness and manoeuvrability, Alcaraz was brilliant, nary mislaid origin beyond his athleticism. As for his forehand it flew arsenic accelerated and efficaciously arsenic an Exocet. Has location ever been a much deadly limb successful tennis? And past location are his dextrous drops shots to contend with.

Ah, and past you travel up against Djokovic. He was for illustration a wall, and you could only marvel astatine his resilience and courtcraft. As small Tara’s motion declared: ‘Dad’s nan best.’

He’s surely nan flintiest, and that whitethorn magnitude to beautiful overmuch nan aforesaid thing.