Novak Djokovic’s surgically repaired knee showed no signs of slowing him down as he finally secured a place in the Summer Olympics singles final for the first time, defeating Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-2 on Friday night at Paris 2024.
The 37-year-old Serbian tennis legend will face Spain’s rising star Carlos Alcaraz for the gold medal on Sunday, in a highly anticipated rematch of their thrilling Wimbledon final just three weeks ago.
Djokovic made history by becoming the oldest man to advance to an Olympic men’s singles final, while the 21-year-old Alcaraz set his own record as the youngest finalist after dominating Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 6-1 in the other semifinal.
Entering the semifinal with an 0-3 record at this stage of the Games, having previously lost to eventual champions Rafael Nadal (Beijing), Andy Murray (London), and Alexander Zverev (Tokyo), Djokovic was determined to overcome the “hurdle” he had frequently mentioned as a significant motivator in his quest for Olympic gold.
Concerns surrounding Djokovic’s knee injury, sustained during the French Open in early June where he tore his meniscus and subsequently underwent surgery in Paris, were put to rest as he displayed exceptional form throughout the match. The Serbian appeared unfazed, aside from minor frustrations with the chair umpire over time violations and an audible obscenity warning.
After sealing his victory against Musetti, Djokovic dropped to the court, lying on his back with arms and legs spread wide, savoring the moment that has eluded him throughout his illustrious career. “Reaching the Olympic final has been a dream of mine, and I’m thrilled to have this opportunity,” Djokovic said in a post-match interview.
The upcoming final promises to be a captivating encounter between experience and youth. Alcaraz, who has been in sensational form, will look to replicate his Wimbledon success, while Djokovic aims to add the elusive Olympic gold to his impressive list of achievements.
Tennis enthusiasts worldwide eagerly await Sunday’s showdown, which not only serves as a rematch of one of this year’s most exciting Grand Slam finals but also highlights the enduring prowess of Djokovic against the burgeoning talent of Alcaraz.
Reference(s):
Djokovic beats Musetti to set up final against Alcaraz at Paris 2024
cgtn.com
