Alcaraz fires to gold medal match at Paris Olympics

Carlos Alcaraz moved to the verge of becoming just the second man to capture Olympic gold, Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles in the same season on Friday when he dispatched Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 6-1 to reach the final at the Paris Olympics.

The 21-year-old Spaniard produced one of his best performances of the season on Court Philippe Chatrier – the same stadium he won Roland Garros in two months ago – to become the youngest player to reach the men’s singles gold medal match since tennis returned to the Olympics at Seoul in 1988.

"It’s going to be a really special moment for me, in my life, in my career, so I’m going to try and enjoy this moment, because it’s going to be really difficult," Alcaraz said looking ahead to the final. "It’s going to be difficult, but it’s going to be special... I will try to be focused on myself and try not to hear all this, all the fans, all the people that say ‘I’m going to win’. I just want to give 100 per cent my best tennis and hopefully I reach my goal to get the gold."

If Alcaraz clinches gold, he will join countryman Rafael Nadal (2008) as the second man to win Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Olympic singles gold in the same season.

ALCARAZ IS ON HIS WAY TO GOLD ⭐️@carlosalcaraz is now one win away to take the gold medal after defeating Auger-Aliassime 6-1 6-1 in #Paris2024 #Olympics | #tennis pic.twitter.com/Itj8QK2Miq

In a high-quality display, Alcaraz consistently found the feet of Auger-Aliassime on return and pulled the Canadian from corner to corner with his deft drop shots and explosive groundstrokes. The second seed did not face a break point en route to victory in 75 minutes and has now won his past 12 matches, having triumphed on grass at Wimbledon last month.

"I have to say that yesterday was a really tough day for Felix, playing a really tough match in the singles, playing the mixed doubles as well and finishing late so it was probably difficult for him to rest and he probably couldn’t give his best tennis physically in the game," Alcaraz said. "I have to be focused on myself, on my game. I’m really happy with my performance. Probably one of my best in this tournament so far, so I’m really happy with the feeling and hopefully keep going and be better in the finals."

On his Olympics debut, Alcaraz is the fourth Spanish man to reach the singles final since 1988, joining Jordi Arrese (1992), Sergi Bruguera (1996) and Nadal (2008). If Alcaraz defeats Serbian Novak Djokovic or Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the final on Sunday, he will become just the second Spaniard to win the gold medal alongside Nadal. Nadal and Alcaraz teamed in the doubles in Paris but lost to Americans Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram on Wednesday.

Alcaraz was dialled-in throughout his semi-final clash with Auger-Aliassime, consistently smiling and fist-pumping to his box, which included Spain captain David Ferrer. He raised his arms aloft after sealing victory and then embraced the Canadian at the net following his 38th tour-level win of the year.

Auger-Aliassime had won his first three meetings with Alcaraz but has now lost his past four matches against the Spaniard, who leads the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series 4-3.

Auger-Aliassime, who reached the Madrid final on clay in May, earned Top 10 win against Casper Ruud and Daniil Medvedev en route to the semi-finals and will now battle for the bronze medal.

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