Djokovic cites Alcaraz for Olympic glory in Paris | ATP Tour

Paris Olympics

Djokovic cites Alcaraz for Olympic glory in Paris

The Serbian will seek his first gold medal at the Olympic Games

August 02, 2024

At 37, Novak Djokovic on Friday broke an unprecedented barrier in a legendary sporting career. The Serbian made his way to his first Olympic final in Paris, one step away from the most outstanding dream of his career: winning an individual gold medal to round off a collection of unparalleled successes on the circuit. With the clay of Philippe-Chatrier as a backdrop, the opportunity to once again sink his hands into history.

The Balkan player will play a monumental final on Sunday against the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, in one of the most exciting clashes in the men’s locker room today. After recently facing each other in the Wimbledon final, setting the pace for the biggest goals on the circuit, both will engage in a new duel with the legend at stake.

To secure an Olympic medal in Paris, the top seed had to put his best foot forward in a fascinating generational duel. Djokovic had to roll up his sleeves to beat Italian Lorenzo Musetti, another of the leading representatives of the new generation of talent on the ATP Tour, 6-4, 6-2. In a highly agile match, with a variety of shots as the norm, the Serbian needed to put his legs to the test to make it to the final duel in the French capital.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for almost 20 years,” Djokovic said during his on-court interview. “I’ve competed in four Olympics, this is my fifth, and I’ve never made it past the semi-finals. I lost three semi-finals in my first four Olympics. I’ve managed to overcome this huge barrier. I have to be honest and admit that I was thinking about all the semi-finals I lost.”

Djokovic’s path to the final of Paris 2024 has been a demonstration of personal confidence. The Balkan native has reached the gold medal match without giving up a single set, including victories over Spaniard Rafael Nadal and Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas to dream of the top step of the podium on French clay. With the second Olympic medal of his career already assured (bronze in Beijing 2008), the horizon represents hope for the Belgrade native.

“I have achieved many great things in this sport, but never an Olympic final. I am very excited,” Djokovic said. “I hope to bring joy to the Serbian fans and many people around the world. Tomorrow I will think about the final with Alcaraz, but I am grateful to have a day off. I will need it.”

Above all, Djokovic has completed a memorable story of overcoming difficulties on the clay of Paris. Weeks after withdrawing from the quarter-finals of Roland Garros due to a knee injury, a mishap that forced him to undergo surgery to repair a damaged meniscus, the Balkan native has responded by climbing to the first Olympic final of his career. On a stage where he has written sporting history, Novak dreams of the ultimate milestone.

The gold medal is just a step away, although the obstacle is the biggest imaginable at the moment. Alcaraz keeps his eyes on Djokovic in the Lexus ATP Head2Head record (3-3), having performed extraordinarily in the three championship matches between the two. Carlos is the only player to have won two Wimbledon finals against the Serbian, from whom he demanded the longest three-set final in history last year in Cincinnati.

Musetti will face Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the bronze medal match on Saturday.

Did you know…?
Novak Djokovic is making his fifth Olympic appearance in his career. Before shining in Paris 2024, the Serbian was present at Beijing 2008 (bronze medal), London 2012 (fourth place), Rio de Janeiro 2016 (first round) and Tokyo (fourth place).