Djokovic GOAT Status?

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Welcome back to the Bandit Betting Newsletter, where we deliver the top stories in sports and gambling directly to your inbox, every Sunday.

In today's email:

• Novak Djokovic: beats Carlos Alcaraz for first Olympic gold.

• USA Olympic team: updated medal count.

• Bookie in ex-Ohtani interpreter gambling scandal: to plead guilty to running illegal sports betting business.

Let's go...

GOAT STATUS NOLE

"I put my heart, my soul, my body, my family -- my everything -- on the line to win Olympic gold,"

Despite all his Grand Slam titles and time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic yearned for an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last major missing piece in his illustrious career.

At 37, he finally claimed it, defeating Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) in a thrilling men's tennis singles final at the 2024 Games on Sunday.

"Incredible battle. Incredible fight," Djokovic said. "I put my heart, soul, body, and family on the line for this."

After his victory, Djokovic knelt on the clay, overcome with emotion, and celebrated with his family and the Serbian flag.

Alcaraz, who had bested Djokovic at Wimbledon just weeks earlier, praised Djokovic's resilience, though visibly heartbroken by the loss.

Sunday's match was an intense, evenly matched contest marked by long rallies, superb shots, and tight defenses. Both players held serve throughout, with neither conceding a break.

The Olympic format's best-of-three sets added pressure, making every point critical.

The crowd's chants for both players added to the atmosphere, turning the match into a grand spectacle. Djokovic's win was sealed with a final forehand winner, prompting the long-sought Olympic gold around his neck.

OLYMPIC-LIVE UPDATES

2024 Olympics medal count: Which country has won the most medals so far?

The 2024 Paris Olympics continued on Saturday, with Katie Ledecky continuing to add to her medal collection.

She is now tied for the most decorated female Olympian of all time after winning her ninth gold medal and 14th total medal with her win in the 800-meter freestyle.

On the track, Sha'Carri Richardson had to settle for a silver medal, coming in second to Saint Lucia's Julien Alfred, with fellow American Melissa Jefferson taking bronze.

The Team USA 4x400 mixed relay team took silver after getting overtaken in the final seconds by the Netherlands.

Here's where the medal count stands going into competition on Sunday, August 4th.

OHTANI STORY DEVELOPMENTS

The former bookmaker at the center of the gambling scandal involving Dodgers baseball star Shohei Ohtani’s has agreed to plead guilty.

In June, Shohei Ohtani expressed "closure" after his longtime interpreter, Mizuhara, pleaded guilty to fraud and tax charges, having stolen nearly $17 million from Ohtani to pay off gambling debts.

Mizuhara faces up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud and three years for filing a false tax return, with sentencing scheduled for October 25.

Prosecutors revealed that Mizuhara was a client of Bowyer, placing at least 19,000 bets with Bowyer's illegal gambling business from September 2021 to January 2024.

Despite Mizuhara losing at least $182 million, Bowyer continued to raise his betting limits, leaving Mizuhara $40.7 million in debt, according to the plea agreement.

The Justice Department reported that from November 2021 to March 2024, Mizuhara used Ohtani's password to access his bank account and changed security protocols without Ohtani's knowledge.

Mizuhara impersonated Ohtani on approximately 24 occasions to the bank.

Bowyer’s business, which had up to 700 bettors, operated for at least five years in Los Angeles, Orange counties, and Las Vegas.

Mizuhara started placing sports bets with Bowyer in September 2021 and stole from Ohtani to cover his debts.

The allegations surfaced in March after reports from ESPN and the Los Angeles Times, prompting Ohtani’s lawyers to accuse Mizuhara of stealing millions and betting with a bookie under federal investigation.

Both US Attorney Martin Estrada and Major League Baseball have recognized Ohtani as a victim in this case.