Gold dream shattered

Tears! Alcaraz has to interrupt TV interview

Tears for Carlos Alcaraz after losing the final against Novak Djokovic(Bild: AFP/CARL DE SOUZA, Screenshot Eurosport)

21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, the youngest player ever to reach an Olympic final, missed out on Spain's second singles gold after Rafael Nadal in 2008. After his defeat in the final against Serbia's Novak Djokovic, there were bitter tears and Alcaraz had to interrupt a TV interview.

It was not meant to be! In a high-class final on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Carlos Alcaraz lost 6:7(3) and 6:7(2). While Novak Djokovic, the most successful tennis player of all time, won the last missing piece of the puzzle in his unique career with the gold medal, Spain's tennis hopeful was hugely disappointed.

Carlos Alcaraz(Bild: AP/Andy Wong)

In the "Eurosport" interview, Alcaraz burst into tears on the court and even had to interrupt the interview briefly. "I gave everything I had. It hurts to lose the game like that. I had my chances to take the lead. I didn't take them," he lamented in conversation with legend Alex Corretja.

Praise for Djokovic
However, there was plenty of praise for his opponent in the final. "Novak played excellently. He deserves that. He improved his level once again in tight moments. He played unbelievable balls. An incredible game," said Alcaraz, who had to settle for silver, about the "Djoker". Fighting for Spain at the Olympic Games in Paris "meant everything" to him, said the youngster, who was able to laugh again shortly afterwards.