Novak Djokovic not slowed by knee, reaches 1st Olympic singles final

PARIS — When Novak Djokovic‘s first berth in an Olympics tennis final was secured, when he was assured of a chance to win the gold medal that’s missing from his lengthy list of accomplishments, he fell back on the clay, limbs spread apart — the sort of pose generally reserved for securing a championship.

“This,” he said after beating Lorenzo Musetti of Italy 6-4, 6-2 by taking the last four games, “is a big deal.”

Already the owner of a men’s-record 24 Grand Slam titles and the most weeks at No. 1 in the rankings in tennis history, Djokovic will try to add to his legacy when he faces Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday in the men’s singles title match.

Alcaraz was even more dominant in Friday’s semifinals, eliminating Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada 6-1, 6-1.

Djokovic is 37, which makes him the oldest man to play in a Summer Games tennis final. Alcaraz is 21, which makes him the youngest.

“The way he’s playing, he’s definitely a favorite,” Djokovic said.

Djokovic’s best medal to date for Serbia was a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games. Now he’ll do no worse than a silver.

“Just to secure a higher medal for the first time for my country, whatever happens on Sunday, is a huge, obviously pride and honor and happiness — and that’s why I celebrated the way I did,” he said. “I still need to celebrate, because it’s a big success, of course.”

Was Musetti surprised to see the way Djokovic reacted?

“I know how much it means for ‘Nole’ to win a gold, to win a medal, of course,” Musetti replied, using Djokovic’s nickname. “So, no, absolutely not.”

The final will be a rematch of the past two Wimbledon finals, each won by Alcaraz, including the one just three weeks ago.

“It’s always really difficult facing Novak, in every round,” Alcaraz said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the first round or final.”

The Spaniard has four Grand Slam titles, another one of which came in June at the French Open, the clay-court tournament held at Roland Garros, also the site for Olympics tennis this year.

Djokovic got injured during the French Open, tearing the meniscus in his right knee and having surgery June 5. He felt what he described as “sharp pain” while getting past Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals Thursday night, but he seemed fine — and said he was — against Musetti after a lot of work with his physiotherapist to prepare.

“It didn’t bother me at all” Friday, Djokovic said, “so I’m really glad there’s nothing serious about it.”

He acknowledged feeling nervy and seemed that way, bothered by things such as the wind or the footing or the chair umpire calling him twice for time violations and then warning him for an audible obscenity. Over and over, Djokovic gestured at his team up in the stands, muttering or even yelling.

But his tennis was on point other than when he got broken to begin the second set. Even then, he quickly regrouped.

“He deserved to win,” said Musetti, who also lost to Djokovic at the French Open and Wimbledon in 2024.

Djokovic came into Friday 0-3 in Olympic semifinals, losing to the eventual champion each time: Rafael Nadal (Beijing), Andy Murray (London) and Alexander Zverev (Tokyo). Djokovic mentioned that “hurdle” repeatedly the other day and again Friday night.

Djokovic has spoken often about how much it means to him to represent his country and how much he wishes he could do better than his bronze in 2008.

Alcaraz is about a month younger than Vincent Richards of the U.S. was when he claimed the gold in Paris in 1924.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.