The men’s tennis final at the 2024 Paris Olympics will be one for the history books. Serbia’s Novak Djokovic can complete a Golden Slam with a win, but he will have to get through rising Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz, who is making his Olympic debut.
Djokovic, 37, earned his ticket to the title match with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, who earned the bronze medal on Saturday. He is officially the oldest player in history to reach an Olympic tennis final in the singles event. Meanwhile, Alcaraz beat Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, 6-1, 6-1, in the semifinals and is now the youngest man to make it this far since the 1988 Seoul Games.
Djokovic and Alcaraz are seeded No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, and it is hard to predict the outcome as they are currently tied at three in their all-time team series. Neither player has dropped a set in this competition.
The Serbian star has won a record 24-time Grand Slam titles, but he has yet to win a gold medal at the Olympics. Gold would mean he can join the prestigious Golden Slam Club, which includes Steffi Graf (1988), Andrew Agassi (1999), Rafael Nadal (2010) and Serena Williams (2012). His only medal was bronze in 2008, but Djokovic is excited to be guaranteed a better one on Sunday no matter the result.
“This dream is long lived and fought for. I wanted to compete in the finals of Olympic games for such a long time,” Djokovic said. “Representing my country at a global event is a huge privilege and honor that I cherish. Serbia will have a medal on Sunday!!!”
Alcaraz also expressed his excitement about making the podium.
“MEDAL! This means everything to me, but there is still Sunday!” he wrote on social media in Spanish.
Their most recent meeting was last month during the Wimbledon title match, when Alcaraz took a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) victory. That result helped the 21-year-old become the youngest man to win a Grand Slam title on grass, clay and hard courts. Despite losing, making the championship match was an impressive achievement for Djokovic as he had undergone an operation to repair a torn meniscus a few weeks before the tournament started.
They have faced each other once at Roland Garros — where Olympic tennis is taking place — during the 2023 French Open semifinals. Alcaraz made it a four-set battle, but Djokovic ultimately won it, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.
The battle between Djokovic and Alcaraz is set for Sunday at 8 a.m. ET.
