Novak Djokovic's change in mindset played a huge role in the Serb's victory over Alcaraz at the Olympics

Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic finally captured the elusive gold medal that has escaped him his entire career, defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion was coming off meniscus surgery suffered at Roland Garros a few months ago. Despite his ailment, Djokovic was cleared to compete in time for the Wimbledon Championships, going all the way to the final. However, he was denied a 25th Grand Slam title by Alcaraz, who swept past the Serbian in three straight sets.

With the Olympics tennis event taking place on the clay courts of Roland Garros, Djokovic had to switch strategies if he were to stand a chance of defeating the inform Alcaraz. The Spaniard had won back-to-back titles at the French Open and Wimbledon, and was a favorite to win the gold medal in his maiden Olympics appearance.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Djokovic was forced to try something different in order to avoid a second straight loss in one of the biggest matches of his career. The Serbian adopted a different mindset, particularly when it came to the final. In their match at Wimbledon, Djokovic was seen sharing a chuckle with Alcaraz prior to their walk through the tunnel to the courts. However, he did not make eye contact with the Spaniard before the Olympics final, focusing on his kitbag while his teammates wished Alcaraz luck before walking back to their seats.

Another strategy used by the Serbian was his aggressive approach, as he appeared rushed during the SW19 final, charging the net on several occasions. The tactic did not pay off as he had a 51% net conversion rate. However, Djokovic appeared to be in control during their match in Paris, approaching the net less frequently and dictating play from the baseline. This led to an increased net point win percentage (67%) for the Serbian.

Finally, Djokovic was more forceful with his forehand, applying more pace and placement to frustrate his Spanish opponent. He was aided by the fact that the ball does not skid on clay, allowing him more time to line up and crush shots at will.