Olympic Games—Paris, France
Djokovic to Face Alcaraz for Olympic Gold Medal; Swiatek Wins Bronze Medal
Friday’s action from the Olympic Games saw the completion of the men’s semifinal action and women’s bronze medal match.
First up, reigning French Open and Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz dismantled Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 6-1.
Needing one hour and 16 minutes to advance, Alcaraz hit 12 winners, two aces and broke serve on five occasions. Improving to 4-3 against the Canadian in lifetime meetings, Alcaraz will next face top seed Novak Djokovic for the Gold Medal match.
Djokovic, who has been visibly ailing throughout his last two matches with a knee injury, needed all his experience to oust inform Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-2.
The Serbian legend will now play for the only major title that has alluded him for his incredible career. Winning every Grand Slam, Masters 1000 title and team event, Djokoivc is a Gold medal away from solidifying himself as the greatest male player ever.
Alcaraz, who would be the youngest Gold Medal winner at the Olympic Games, continues to raise the bar in men’s tennis. The Spaniard won the pair’s most recent encounter during the Wimbledon finals, prevailing in straight sets.
Swiatek Captures Bronze
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek salvaged her Olympic Games by capturing the Bronze Medal on Friday. Defeating Anna-Karolina Schmiedlova 6-2, 6-1, Swiatek made up for her loss the Qinwen Zheng in the semifinals.
Saturday’s Gold Medal match will feature Zheng taking on Croatian star Donna Vekic.
Vekic recently made the semifinals of Wimbledon and is currently ranked No. 21 in the world.
Zheng, who reached the finals of the Australian Open in January, lost to Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.
Badosa, Cobolli Advance at Washington, D.C.
Former top 10 player Paula Badosa used 11 aces to oust former US Open winner Emma Raducanu 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in Washington, D.C. on Friday.
The talented Spaniard will next face Caroline Dolehide for a place in the finals. Dolehide defeated Amanda Anisamova in straight sets.
Elsewhere, Marie Bouzkova dismissed Robin Montgomery 6-3, 6-1.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka will face Victoria Azarenka in the night session.
On the men’s side, Flavio Cobolli progressed to the final four after dispatching Alex Michelsen 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(2).
Needing two hours and 39 minutes to move on, Cobolli will face top seed Ben Shelton or Denis Shapovalov on Saturday.
The other men’s quarterfinals will see top seed Andrey Rublev face No. 5 seed Frances Tiafoe and No. 4 seed Sebastian Korda taking on No. 7 seed Jordan Thompson.
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