When Novak Djokovic takes to the court to face off with Carlos Alcaraz at Roland-Garros today, he will be looking to win the one title that has eluded him his entire career — Olympic gold.
Victory would see 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic complete what is known in tennis as the “Golden Slam” — winning all four Grand Slam titles and Olympic gold across a career. He would be joining the illustrious company of Steffi Graff, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams in the record books.
“This dream is long lived and fought for,” Djokovic posted on X after his semifinal victory against Lorenzo Musetti Friday, which saw Djokovic at his glittering best despite concerns over his knee. Certainly, the Olympics have been a brutal beast for the Serbian icon — a bronze in 2008 was the only Olympic medal to his name before today. At 37-years-old, this may well be Djokovic’s last chance to put his Olympic demons to rest.
Spanish phenom Alcaraz, who only turned 21 in May, will be aiming to create history of his own. He is looking to become just the second man ever, behind his compatriot Nadal, to win the French Open, Wimbledon and Olympic gold in the same summer.
This will be a rematch of last month’s Wimbledon final with Alcaraz the comfortable straight-sets victor on the grass in London. It was miraculous that Djokovic was even at Wimbledon, let alone the final, with it coming a matter of weeks after Djokovic underwent knee surgery.
The gold medal match of the men’s singles is due to begin at around 8 a.m. ET.