Novak Djokovic will play in his first Olympic Video games gold medal match at 37 years and two months! Novak defeated 5 rivals at Roland Garros in Paris, securing a medal for Serbia and setting Sunday’s title conflict in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic battled in opposition to Lorenzo Musetti within the semi-final, dealing with the Italian for the second time in a few weeks. The veteran ousted the younger gun 6-4, 6-2, outplaying his rival on serve and return and shifting into the gold medal conflict.
Novak felt the ache in his knee the earlier evening in opposition to Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Serb produced a comeback within the second set, sealing the deal in straight units and preserving vitality. He fought nicely in opposition to an in-form Musetti, shedding serve two instances and taking half of the return factors.
Lorenzo performed in opposition to 13 break factors and bought damaged 5 instances in a row from the top of the opening set, shifting into the bronze medal match in opposition to Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Novak wasted two recreation factors within the opening recreation of the encounter earlier than closing it with a service winner.
Lorenzo picked up a artful half-volley winner within the second recreation and grabbed it with a compelled error for 1-1. The Italian drew the Serb’s mistake within the third recreation, making a break alternative. Lorenzo missed a backhand, and Novak held to keep away from an early setback.
Musetti confronted the final word problem within the fourth recreation, taking part in in opposition to 4 break factors. Lorenzo denied them and held with a deep backhand assault, offering an important maintain and locking the consequence at 2-2. Novak left these probabilities behind and landed a backhand down the road winner within the fifth recreation, holding at love and shifting 3-2 in entrance.
Lorenzo responded with a service winner within the sixth recreation and repeated that at 3-4, following Novak’s tempo. Djokovic stayed centered and closed the ninth recreation with an unreturned serve, preserving the strain on the opposite aspect.
Novak Djokovic will search the Olympic Video games gold medal versus Carlos Alcaraz.
Musetti served to remain within the set at 4-5 and constructed a 40-0 lead.
Novak climbed again and created a set level after Lorenzo’s forehand error. The Italian missed a drop shot, shedding serve for the primary time and permitting the Serb to wrap up the opener in over an hour. All of the sudden, Novak sprayed a forehand error within the first recreation of the second set, shedding serve and pushing his rival in entrance.
Djokovic hit a backhand winner on the web in recreation two, incomes a break level and drawing Musetti’s mistake to tug the break again. The Serb wasted a recreation level at 1-1 and confronted two break factors. He netted a backhand on the second, shedding serve for the second time in a row and falling 2-1 behind.
The veteran pulled the break again in recreation 4, forcing the younger gun’s error and delivering his third consecutive return recreation. After 5 straight breaks on either side, Novak held at 15 within the fifth recreation, shifting 3-2 in entrance.
Lorenzo struggled on serve for the fourth time in a row in recreation six, dealing with break factors and saving the primary with a backhand winner.
The Italian saved the second earlier than the Serb created the third with a smash winner.
Musetti sprayed a forehand error, shedding serve for the fourth time in a row and sending Djokovic 4-2 in entrance. The veteran landed an ace down the T line within the seventh recreation, holding at love and forging a large 5-2 benefit.
Lorenzo served to remain within the match in recreation eight and confronted three match factors after Novak’s drop shot and lob combo. Djokovic seized the third with a compelled error, shifting excessive and celebrating his second Olympic medal 16 years after the primary!
Novak debuted on the Olympic Video games in Beijing 2008, standing because the third favourite. Djokovic reached the semi-final and fell in three units to Rafael Nadal. Novak chased the bronze medal and beat James Blake, securing an honor for Serbia.
4 years later in London, Djokovic reached one other semi-final at Wimbledon. He misplaced a decent duel to Andy Murray and fought for a bronze medal in opposition to Juan Martin del Potro.
The Argentine beat the Serb, leaving him and not using a medal. The identical rivals met within the first spherical in Rio 2016. Del Potro overpowered Djokovic in two tie breaks, leaving Novak in tears following his worst Olympic Video games setback.
Djokovic was the favourite in Tokyo three years in the past, chasing all 4 Main titles and the Olympic gold in 2021. The Serb performed nicely within the opening 4 matches, reaching his third semi-final in fashion. Novak constructed a set and a break lead in opposition to Alexander Zverev earlier than fading from the courtroom, permitting the German to say ten of the ultimate 11 video games and transfer into the ultimate.
Djokovic couldn’t get well for a bronze medal duel, falling to Pablo Carreno Busta and lacking a medal like in London. Novak stopped the clock this week in Paris, securing his second Olympic medal and hoping to win the gold versus Carlos Alcaraz.
