Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will meet in a blockbuster gold medal match at the Paris Olympics with Serbia targeting revenge for last month’s Wimbledon drubbing.
Djokovic left Roland Garros on Thursday afternoon with concerns that he had suffered further damage to his right knee, which has been bandaged since surgery after tearing his meniscus at the French Open.
But those fears disappeared as he celebrated breaking the Olympic semi-final hoodoo after defeating Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti.
With a bronze medal in 2008, the 37-year-old must try to reverse the results of the Wimbledon final, where he was soundly beaten by Alcaraz.
Djokovic lost to Rafael Nadal in the semifinals in Beijing, Andy Murray in the last four of 2012 in London and in Tokyo Alexander Zverev blocked his way.
Realistically, Sunday’s final is Djokovic’s last chance to scratch the Olympic itch, but he says he won’t lose.
“I don’t consider myself a favorite because Alcaraz has proven he is the best player in the world,” said the top seed.
“I feel like I’m a different player than I was at Wimbledon, the way I move, the way I attack the ball. Not to take anything away from him winning the Wimbledon final, he dominated and deserved to be the champion, but I’m more confident in myself and my chances at final.”
Djokovic has won three of his six matches against Alcaraz, including in the semi-finals of last year’s French Open, but the 21-year-old Spaniard is looking to cap off an incredible summer by adding gold to his Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles.
Alcaraz has shouldered a heavy burden last week, not only reaching the singles final but also playing his idol Nadal in an emotional doubles race that ended in the last eight.
If she wins and becomes the youngest Olympic singles champion, she will join Steffi Graf and Nadal to win the French, Wimbledon and Olympic titles in the same year.
“It means a lot to me to be in the final at the Olympics and it gives me the opportunity to fight for the gold medal for my country,” Alcaraz said. “This is a special moment for my career and my life.
“I will try and enjoy this moment, but I am very focused on playing in the final on Sunday. I am very happy to bring a medal to my country and, hopefully, it will be gold.”
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- Winston-Salem Open (ATP 250) – August 18-24
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- Abierto GNP Seguros, Monterrey (WTA 500) – August 19-24
- US Open (ATP/WTA) – August 26 – September 8
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