Djokovic marches into first Olympic final with win over Musetti
The Serbian has the chance to win a first Olympic gold medal, but will have to beat Carlos Alcaraz in the final
Manu Fernandez/AP/SIPA
Novak Djokovic moved to within one victory of winning the only major title to elude him in his career as he beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-2 at Roland-Garros on Friday to reach the final of the Olympics in Paris.
The 37-year-old, a bronze medallist in 2008, broke at the end of the first set and then won the last five games of the match to set up a final against Carlos Alcaraz, who beat him in the Wimbledon final last month.
As Musetti’s last groundstroke found the net, Djokovic fell on his back behind the baseline, the emotions of his achievement beginning to sink in. Three times a beaten semi-finalist at the Olympics, after shaking hands with the Italian, he fought back tears as he allowed the significance of his win to hit home.
“It was such a tense match, a lot of emotions, so much, I guess expectations and stress coming into today’s match, particularly because with a win I would secure a medal for my country, the first final of the Olympics for me now,” he said. “I’m thrilled. Obviously I want to win the gold…but already this is a huge result for me.
“I was really nervous today, I lost three Olympic semi-finals that I played so I really wanted to get through this hurdle.”
No sign of knee issues
Djokovic had sparked concern on Thursday when he needed treatment on the right knee that required surgery in the second week of the French Open, but there were no issues on Friday as he outmoved and outmanoeuvred Musetti.
The pair had met in the semi-finals at Wimbledon and just as then, Musetti flattered to deceive, playing some great tennis until Djokovic took over.
Games went with serve in the opening set until the 10th game, when Musetti, trailing 4-5, led 40-0 only for Djokovic to break to claim the set.
The Serbian looked shaky at the start of the second set, dropping serve in the first game, thanks to two poor drop shots and wild forehand. He broke back, only to drop serve again, but a fourth break in a row put him level and from then on, Djokovic locked down and forged ahead.
The Italian was broken again in the sixth game and for a third time in the eighth as the pressure told, sending Djokovic through to a meeting with Alcaraz, while Musetti will take on Felix Auger-Aliassime for the bronze medal.
Djokovic: “Nothing to lose”
“Sunday is going to be the biggest challenge that I can have on this court at the moment,” Djokovic said. “He won Roland-Garros, he beat me quite comfortably in the final at Wimbledon. But it’s a different surface, I feel like I’m playing better, I’m moving better than I did at Wimbledon. In a way, I have nothing to lose because I already won a medal, so I’m going to go for it.”
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