By Reinaldo Oliveros
02 Aug 2024, 09:32 AM EDT
Carlos Alcaraz becomes the first finalist in singles tennis after defeating Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime 6-1 and 6-1. The Spaniard has already secured a medal and will go for gold against the winner of the duel between Novak Djokovic and Lorenzo Musetti.
Alcaraz is the fourth Spanish player to reach the men’s singles final since tennis returned to the Olympic Games in Seoul 1988. The 21-year-old joins Jordi Arrese at Barcelona 1992, Sergi Bruguera at Atlanta 1996 and Rafael Nadal at Beijing 2008.
The tennis player from Murcia has always defeated Aliassime. The most recent, the only one so far on clay, was at Roland Garros. Alcaraz won in three sets, without any excuses. This time, in the same venue as weeks ago, he hopes to be crowned Olympic champion.
Carlos Alcaraz with record in Olympic Games finals
Carlos Alcaraz also holds the record of being one of the youngest to reach an Olympic Games final.
The Spaniard is the youngest player to reach the men’s singles final since tennis returned to the Olympic Games in Seoul 1988, ahead of Swiss Marc Rosset, who won gold in Barcelona 1992 at 21 years and 275 days.
Alcaraz shines. So does his medal. With his stay on the podium assured, his rival awaits. The winner of the match between Serbian Novak Djokovic and Italian Lorenzo Musetti will be his opponent on Sunday. The Spaniard has already done his job. The medal that Spanish sport was counting on is in his pocket.
Novak Djokovic at risk of possible injury
Serbian Novak Djokovic expressed concern about his right knee after his victory over Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, which took him to the semi-finals of the Olympic tournament and into the fight for the medals in Paris 2024.
The winner of twenty-four Grand Slams felt pain in his right knee, which he underwent surgery on almost two months ago.
Djokovic, who has been playing with a visible knee brace since his surgery, expressed his concern after his victory.
“I am very worried, honestly, I don’t know what to say. I finished the match and the intense pain disappeared. Whether I hit or slipped, I don’t even know for sure,” said the 37-year-old Serbian player, who is aiming for the Olympic gold that is missing from his list of achievements.
Keep reading:
– Carlos Alcaraz enters the fight for medals in Paris 2024 and equals Djokovic’s record