Novak Djokovic wins his first Olympic gold medal beating Carlos Alcaraz in men’s tennis final

Gold medallist Novak Djokovic of Serbia gestures while holding his medal after beat Carlos Alcaraz. (Reuters)
Short Url
Updated 04 August 2024
Follow

Novak Djokovic wins his first Olympic gold medal beating Carlos Alcaraz in men’s tennis final

  • Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and evenly matched men’s tennis singles final

PARIS: For all of his Grand Slam championships and other titles, for all of his time at No. 1, Novak Djokovic really, really wanted an Olympic gold medal for Serbia, the last significant accomplishment missing from his glittering resume.
He finally got one at age 37. Doesn’t matter a bit how long it took. Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) in an enthralling and evenly matched men’s tennis singles final at the 2024 Games on Sunday.
“I put my heart, my soul, my body, my family — my everything — on the line to win Olympic gold,” Djokovic said. “Incredible battle. Incredible fight.”
His impressive career already featured a men’s-record 24 Grand Slam trophies and the most weeks spent atop in the rankings by any man or woman. It also already contained a Summer Olympics medal, from 2008, but it was a bronze — and he made it clear that simply wasn’t sufficient.
Until he got past bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the semifinals Friday, Djokovic was 0-3 in that round at the Games. He lost to the eventual gold winner each time: Rafael Nadal at Beijing in 2008, Andy Murray at London in 2012, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.
Before facing Musetti, Djokovic said, “I was like, ‘OK, let’s get through this one.’ That’s why today, before the match, I did not feel as nervous as I would normally feel, because I had secured a medal.”
In Paris, wearing a gray sleeve over the right knee that required surgery for a torn meniscus two months ago, Djokovic faced Nadal in the second round and eliminated his longtime rival in straight sets. Now Djokovic is the oldest man to win the singles gold in his sport since 1908 — and prevented Spain’s Alcaraz, who is 21, from becoming the youngest.
When the victory was his, when the gold was his, thanks to one last forehand winner, Djokovic turned toward his team in the stands — sitting in front of his wife and their two children — dropped his racket and knelt on the clay. As emotional as ever, he cried and covered his face, then rose and grabbed a red-white-and-blue Serbian flag.
After hugs in the stands, Djokovic waved that flag.
“In the tough moments, he gave it an extra push,” silver medalist Alcaraz said through his own tears. “It hurts to lose like this.”
The final, which lasted 2 hours, 50 minutes despite being decided in only two sets, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match three weeks ago that Alcaraz won to follow up his French Open title in June.
Alcaraz also defeated Djokovic in last year’s final at the All England Club, but Djokovic won when they met in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, the annual clay-court tournament held at Roland Garros, the site used for tennis during these Olympics.
Sunday’s contest was an enthralling matchup, featuring one of the best to ever do it in Djokovic, and the best at the moment in Alcaraz. Indeed, could have been frustrating for Djokovic to find himself once again across the net from a younger, speedier version of himself. Maybe that’s why Djokovic frequently looked up and gesticulated and muttered toward his guest box.
Still, he came out on top.
“Honestly, when the last shot went through him, past him, that was the only moment I actually thought I can win the match,” Djokovic said.
It required long exchanges filled with superb ball-striking, deft drop shots — Alcaraz’s tended to be more successful, sometimes so good Djokovic declined to even give chase — and tremendous sprinting, sliding, stretching defense at both ends. They served so well that neither got broken even once: Djokovic saved eight break points, Alcaraz six.
Most remarkable, perhaps, was how cleanly both men played, despite the talent of the opposition and pressure of the occasion.
The only shame, perhaps, for the fans — and, naturally, Alcaraz — was that the Olympics uses a best-of-three-set format, instead of the best-of-five at Grand Slam tournaments. Make no mistake, this encounter between the No. 1-seeded Djokovic and No. 2-seeded Alcaraz was worthy of a major final.
Those in the stands became part of the show, repeatedly breaking out into choruses of “No-le! No-le!” or “Car-los! Car-los!” that often overlapped, creating an operatic fugue. In the second set, as Alcaraz attempted to mount a comeback, his supporters began chanting, “Si, se puede!” (essentially, “Yes, you can!”) while shaking their red-and-yellow flags. Chair umpire Damien Dumusois occasionally reminded folks to remain silent during the action.
Yet the place also became as quiet as a theater between points, enough so that play was delayed briefly when the air thick with anticipation was pierced by a young child’s crying.
Both men played to the crowd. When Alcaraz raced to reach one drop shot and deposit it over the net for a winner, he basked in the raucous reaction by pointing his right index finger to his ear. When Djokovic laced a cross-court forehand winner on the run to cap a 10-shot point to lead 3-2 in the second tiebreaker, he waved both arms overhead to encourage folks who already were standing and screaming.
The first set alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hours, full of epic shots and epic games. One lasted 18 points spread over more than a dozen mesmerizing minutes, including five break chances for Alcaraz, before Djokovic managed to hold for a 5-4 lead. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic was superior in crunch time, as he so often is, taking the last four points.
At 3-all, Alcaraz delivered a body serve, but Djokovic slid just enough to his left to smack a cross-court forehand return winner. After two mistakes by Alcaraz, Djokovic produced a volley winner and turned to face his family with a fist held high.
Another set, and another tiebreaker, later, and Djokovic had that medal that he wanted, at long last.
When the Serbian national anthem finished ringing out at Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic reached for that gold and brought it to his lips for a kiss.


New season of Saudi Women’s Premier Leagues promises top-class action

Updated 19 September 2024
Follow

New season of Saudi Women’s Premier Leagues promises top-class action

  • Third season of Saudi women’s football will have 90 matches over 18 weeks
  • Campaign titled #SeeUsPlay aims to inspire next generation of Saudi players

RIYADH: The Saudi Women’s Premier League returns to action on Friday Sept. 27 with a new campaign titled “#SeeUsPlay” aimed at inspiring young footballers.

There will be 90 matches over 18 weeks in the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s Women’s Premier League, with over 200 players registered for the new season.

Over 15 international players have signed for 10 clubs in the SAFF’s league.

The influx of international talent is a testament to the growth of women’s football in the Kingdom, following on from the qualification of Al-Nassr for the preliminary stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League in August.

The “#SeeUsPlay” campaign is aimed at growing the game. There are already 77,000 female players in the nation’s school league.

The SAFF’s President Yasser Al-Misehal said: “We’re very proud of the growth of women’s football in Saudi Arabia and excited to see the return of the Women’s Premier League.”

He said the federation’s investment in women’s football has resulted in more registered players, football clubs, domestic competitions, national teams, licensed coaches, referees, and girls participating in the regional training centers and the school’s league.

“I congratulate our Women’s Football Department on this initiative, and wish the players, clubs and officials good luck and in the spirit of the campaign, encourage everyone across Saudi and beyond to ‘#SeeUsPlay.’

“We have so many historic clubs and passionate fans who support them but there is new history to write, and these players simply deserve your support. Everyone benefits from the noise and energy you will bring.”

The SAFF’s Head of Women’s Football Aalia Al-Rasheed added: “The development we have seen for the Saudi Women’s Premier League over the past two seasons has been remarkable, going from having no professional female players to now having over 20 nationalities competing here in Saudi Arabia.”

She added: “It has been an incredible experience to witness how this game is inspiring a new generation, with players who saw the formation of our national team in 2021 now joining the women’s professional league and professional women’s clubs now competing on the international stage.”

Al-Rasheed said she was proud of the growth of the game at grassroots level, and the interest from international players to join the league.

The development of Saudi Arabian football is in line with the nation’s “Growing Together” campaign and the nation’s Vision 2030 strategy to promote sports.


Bangladesh win toss, bowl against India in first Test

Updated 19 September 2024
Follow

Bangladesh win toss, bowl against India in first Test

  • Bangladesh are fresh from a historic 2-0 Test sweep in Pakistan but have never beaten India in 13 attempts
  • India, led by Rohit Sharma, are looking to extend their lead at the top of the World Test Championship rankings

CHENNAI, India: Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to field against India in an overcast Chennai on Thursday in the first of two Tests.
Bangladesh are fresh from a historic 2-0 Test sweep in Pakistan but they have never beaten India in 13 attempts.
The visitors have included three seamers including new pace sensation Nahid Rana, who bowled at speeds of over 146 kph (90 mph)in Pakistan.
“There is moisture on the wicket and we will like to use the conditions,” Najmul said at the toss.
“It looks hard and will be good for the seamers in the first session.”
India, led by Rohit Sharma, are looking to extend their lead at the top of the World Test Championship rankings as they begin a fresh Test season of 10 matches.
Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant returns to the Test team for the first time since he nearly died in a car crash in 2022.
Virat Kohli is also back for his first Test since facing South Africa at Cape Town in January, having missed India’s 4-1 home series win against England for the birth of his second child.
Rohit said he would also have fielded first had he won the toss, admitting the “conditions will be challenging.”
India have included three fast bowlers and two spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
It is a first Test for new India coach Gautam Gambhir, who took over from Rahul Dravid, who ended his tenure by winning the T20 World Cup in June.
Teams
India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj.
Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, Taskin Ahmed.
Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG), Rod Tucker (AUS)
TV Umpire: Chris Brown (NZL)
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)


Britannia advance in America’s Cup while American Magic stay alive

Updated 19 September 2024
Follow

Britannia advance in America’s Cup while American Magic stay alive

  • The Americans won both races to cut Luna Rossa’s lead to 4-3 in the first-to-five playoff series
  • Alinghi Red Bull Racing cut their deficit against INEOS Britannia to 4-2 by winning their first race, but the British triumphed in the second race to qualify for the Louis Vuitton Cup final that will begin on Sept. 26

BARCELONA: INEOS Britannia advanced to the final of the America’s Cup playoffs on Wednesday, while NYYC American Magic took advantage of a mid-race failure on the boat of Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli to keep alive their hopes of pulling off an unexpected comeback in the semifinals.

The Americans won both races to cut Luna Rossa’s lead to 4-3 in the first-to-five playoff series. American Magic had been on the verge of elimination after going down 4-0, and now they can advance with a pair of victories on Thursday.

The Americans won the final race of the day on Wednesday after a gear failure on Luna Rossa’s boat took it out of contention. The Italian boat had to start cruising immediately after a loud pop was heard.

“You’re always going to get a few curveballs that come your way, but champion teams can deal with that, and we’ve certainly got a champion team,” Luna Rossa skipper Jimmy Spithill said. “We have a fantastic team ashore and there’s no doubt in my mind that we will be back. I’ll make a bet and I’ll put the farm on it that we’ll be out there tomorrow.”

Switzerland’s Alinghi Red Bull Racing — who also trailed 4-0 — earlier Wednesday cut their deficit against INEOS Britannia to 4-2 by winning their first race, but the British triumphed in the second race to qualify for the Louis Vuitton Cup final that will begin on Sept. 26.

“It was a tough final couple of days in the lighter conditions, hats off to Alinghi Red Bull Racing, they really pushed us hard in those lighter conditions and it was a rough day today where the wind was up and down a lot, a nasty sea state,” Britannia skipper Ben Ainslie said. “A tough test for all of the teams, but I’m delighted for our team, for all the hard work and effort to get us this point.”

Alinghi skipper Arnaud Psarofaghis said they started sailing well “too late” in the playoffs.

“The boat performed well, but we missed some opportunities on the sailing side,” he said.

The winner will challenge defending champion Team Emirates New Zealand in the America’s Cup final next month.


Hidden talent: French Olympic star Marchand opts for disguise

Updated 19 September 2024
Follow

Hidden talent: French Olympic star Marchand opts for disguise

  • Marchand: I need to organize myself a little more. I can’t do my shopping alone. I wear a cap and glasses. I try to hide a little
  • Marchand said that the Paris Olympics, which were widely praised for their smooth organization, had sparked a wave of optimism in the country

TOULOUSE: French Olympic swimming hero Leon Marchand said Wednesday his record-breaking exploits in the Paris pool have changed his life so much that he often needs to don a disguise to evade attention.

The 22-year-old won all four of his individual races at the Games — the 200m butterfly, 200m breaststroke and 200m-400m medley double.

It thrust him into elite company as the first male swimmer to do so at a singles Games since American legend Michael Phelps in 2008.

However, fame has its occasional downside.

“I’m going to lose a little freedom and spontaneity because I can’t go out to restaurants like I used to anymore,” Marchand said as Toulouse feted its new Olympic star.

“I need to organize myself a little more. I can’t do my shopping alone. I wear a cap and glasses. I try to hide a little.

“But when people do stop me in the street, it’s to say ‘thank you’. That’s kind and I take it to my heart.”

He added: “I have got used to it quite quickly even if the first weeks were difficult, because it’s a fairly radical change in status.”

Marchand said that the Paris Olympics, which were widely praised for their smooth organization, had sparked a wave of optimism in the country.

“France has changed and I hope it will last,” said Marchand.

“Sport is something quite special. It conveys an emotion that you can’t have anywhere else and the French realized this. We must continue to celebrate athletes, try to put more resources into infrastructure, more sport in schools.”


Man City and Inter Milan draw 0-0 in goal-shy Champions League. PSG score late to beat Girona

Updated 19 September 2024
Follow

Man City and Inter Milan draw 0-0 in goal-shy Champions League. PSG score late to beat Girona

  • Just 13 were scored in six games one day after 28 were fired on Tuesday, including nine by Bayern Munich alone
  • A rare Thursday slate of Champions League games will see Barcelona go to Monaco, Atalanta host Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen visit Feyenoord

GENEVA: Where did all the goals go?

The 0-0 draws between Manchester City and Inter Milan in their rematch of the 2023 final, after Bologna and Shakhtar Donetsk also could not find a goal, capped an untypically goal-shy evening for the Champions League on Wednesday.

Just 13 were scored in six games one day after 28 were fired on Tuesday, including nine by Bayern Munich alone.

How unusual was this? Two 0-0 draws after just 12 of 144 games to be played in the new league phase is already halfway to the total of four in 96 games one year ago in the group-stage format that is now abolished. The entire competition averaged three goals per game last season.

Paris Saint-Germain and Girona also were heading for a blank until a horrible 90th-minute error by the Spanish debutant’s goalkeeper, Paulo Gazzaniga — spilling a cross by Nuno Mendes through his own legs — gifted a 1-0 win.

“We won’t get to where we want to overnight,” Girona coach Míchel said. “It requires hard work.”

Borussia Dortmund needed late goals from substitutes Jamie Gittens, twice, and Serhou Guirassy with a stoppage-time penalty to win 3-0 at Club Brugge.

The new format has welcomed new faces and long-absent friends in European soccer’s marquee competition.

Sparta Prague rose to the challenge of their first game for 19 years at this stage of the Champions League by beating Salzburg 3-0.

Bologna waited 60 years to return and deserved more for their attacking ambition against Champions League veteran Shakhtar. The Ukrainian champion had a penalty saved in the fourth minute by Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski.

Slovan Bratislava was overmatched in their first game since 1992-93, the first season of the Champions League rebrand from the old European Cup, and with Georgia defender Guram Kashia making his competition debut at age 37.

They could not keep out Celtic, who won 5-1 in Glasgow. Ireland internationals Liam Scales and Adam Idah, Japan forward Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda, and Arne Engels of Belgium scored for the champion of Scotland.

“The quality of the goals was sensational,” Celtic coach Brendan Rodgers said after just a fourth win in 33 Champions League games for the 1967 European Cup winner.

A rare Thursday slate of Champions League games will see Barcelona go to Monaco, Atalanta host Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen visit Feyenoord.

Six games on each of three straight nights are launching the new format. Now, 36 teams each play eight different opponents through January and are ranked in a single league table to decide which teams advance to the knockout phase.

Man City held in rare home shutout

There was nothing to separate the champions of England and Italy, 15 months after Man City beat Inter 1-0 in Istanbul to lift the European Cup trophy for the first time.

Ilkay Gundogan wasted two late chances for manager Pep Guardiola’s team, failing to convert two headed chances.

It was the first time City had failed to score at home in Europe’s elite tournament since being held 0-0 by Sporting Lisbon in March 2022, and just the second time at home in all competitions since then. The other was a 0-0 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League in March.

But the result saw City extend their six-year unbeaten home run in European games to 32, dating to a 2-1 loss to Lyon.

“I’m pleased with our performance, I liked everything,” Guardiola said.

Dortmund keep clean sheet, again, somehow

Dortmund’s defense had a Champions League-best six clean sheets last season on its way to the final, where Real Madrid found two late goals to take the title.

Somehow, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel kept out Brugge despite 18 goal attempts including a close-range shot by Hugo Vetlesen that rattled the cross bar in the 12th minute. Vetlesen’s effort ended a manic series of four shots in a matter of seconds from a corner including a diving save by Kobel.

The Switzerland ‘keeper’s five saves meant Dortmund did not pay for its own wastefulness in front of goal until taking the lead in the 76th from a Gittens shot that deflected off two defenders before looping past Simon Mignolet into the Brugge net.

Salzburg’s heavy load

Few clubs will play more international games this season than Salzburg, under their new coach Pep Lijnders, the former long-time assistant to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

Salzburg had to advance through two Champions League qualifying rounds in August — because their 10-year title run in Austria was ended by Sturm Graz — and will play at least three more games in June at the Club World Cup in the United States.

Salzburg qualified among 12 European teams going to the relaunched FIFA club event because of its consistent results in the past four Champions League seasons, but was upstaged in Prague.

“A few of our players were playing their first game for the club,” Lijnders said. “It’s a new team we need to build it.”

Sparta came through three qualifying rounds, and six games already, to reach this stage and made a sharp start Wednesday scoring within two minutes to set the tone for an easy win.