As for Djokovic, this was his fourth shot at the one big prize that’s eluded him—quite literally. The Serb has won the career Grand Slam multiple times over, all of the Masters 1000 titles, numerous ATP Finals championships and a Davis Cup. At the Olympics, though, his best showing was a Bronze finish back in 2008.
Read More: Tonsillitis rules Jannik Sinner out of competing at Paris Olympics
This year, the Serb was seeded first after Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal. His draw was fraught with potential danger, notably 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal in the second round. Taking that result and the score of his first-round encounter with Matt Ebden, Djokovic only dropped a total of 6 games between the two matches. He would go on to beat Dominik Koepfer, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Lorenzo Musetti—all younger, healthier opponents (Djokovic was still in a knee sleeve after his French Open injury)—in straight sets to reach his first-ever Gold Medal match.
Across the net loomed Alcaraz, whom he just lost to in the Wimbledon final. The young Spaniard, fresh off his cross-channel Slam, also entered the final without the loss of a set. Something would have to give: Would it be the player expected to lead the way on the tour for years to come or could the one many consider the GOAT—in the midst of one of the worst seasons of his career—step up in perhaps his most important match?
