Novak Djokovic has advanced to the Olympic final for the fifth time, finally finding success in the prestigious tournament. Throughout his Olympic career, Djokovic has faced disappointment, but after winning the bronze in 2008, he is now guaranteed at least a silver medal following his victory over Lorenzo Musetti in the semi-final. Standing in his way of a gold medal is Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic’s achievement of reaching the final puts him in the same category as two other tennis legends, Serena Williams and Roger Federer, who have also reached singles finals after turning 30.
Williams, at the age of 30, had an exceptional run at the Olympic Games. As the fourth seed, she dominated her opponents, losing only four games to Jelena Jankovic in the first round and five games to Urszula Radwanska in the second round. Williams continued her strong performance by defeating Vera Zvonareva and Caroline Wozniacki, and then defeating world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-2 to secure her spot in the gold medal match. In a memorable final, Williams defeated Maria Sharapova, dropping just one game, and also won a doubles gold medal with her sister Venus.
Federer, also at the age of 30, reached the Olympic final in London and claimed his only Olympic singles medal. He faced tough opponents along the way, including Alejandro Falla, Julien Benneteau, and Denis Istomin. Federer’s biggest challenge came in the semi-finals against Juan Martin del Potro, where he prevailed in an extraordinary third set, winning 19-17. However, he was ultimately defeated by Andy Murray in the final.
Djokovic’s journey to the final is even more remarkable as he is 37 years old. He has yet to drop a set in the tournament, starting with a dominant victory over Matt Ebden and a memorable win against Rafael Nadal in the second round. Djokovic continued his winning streak by defeating Dominik Koepfer and Stefanos Tsitsipas in the following rounds. Although he faced some challenges against Musetti in the semi-finals, Djokovic secured a comfortable 6-4, 6-2 victory. All eyes are now on his upcoming match against Alcaraz.
In conclusion, Djokovic’s success in reaching the Olympic final after multiple attempts is a testament to his skill and determination. He joins the ranks of Williams and Federer as players who have achieved this milestone after turning 30. As Djokovic prepares to face Alcaraz for the gold medal, tennis fans eagerly await the outcome of this highly anticipated match.
Photo by Novak Djokovic Instagram
