Paris 2024 Olympics Day 7 Recap and Highlights – August 2

Men’s 3×3 Basketball

The U.S. men’s 3×3 basketball team had a thrilling day:

• Canyon Barry led the team to two consecutive wins against China (21-17) and France (21-19)
• Barry scored 14 points against China and 16 points against France, including both game-winners
• Team USA won both games with only 3 players due to Jimmer Fredette’s injury

Volleyball and Beach Volleyball

U.S. teams excelled in both indoor and beach volleyball:

• The men’s volleyball team defeated Japan in four sets (25-16, 25-18, 18-25, 25-19) to remain undefeated
• Beach volleyball duo Sarah Hughes and Kelly Cheng advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Germany’s Cinja Tillmann and Svenja Mueller (21-18, 21-18)
• All four U.S. beach volleyball teams have now reached the knockout stage

Athletics

Day 7 saw several impressive performances in track and field events:

• Grant Fisher won bronze in the men’s 10,000m race, becoming only the second American man to win a medal in this event in the past 56 years
• The U.S. mixed 4×400 relay team set a new world record with a time of 3:07.41 in their heat
• Dutch distance runner Sifan Hassan began her quest for a rare triple gold, placing second in her 5,000m qualifying heat

Swimming

The swimming competition produced more thrilling moments and historic achievements:

• France’s Leon Marchand won his fourth and final individual gold medal in the 200m individual medley, setting an Olympic record (1:54.06) and becoming the first French athlete to win four golds at a single Olympics
• Australia’s Kaylee McKeown became the first woman to win gold in both the 100m and 200m backstroke in consecutive Olympics
• American Caeleb Dressel failed to defend his titles in the 50m freestyle (finishing 6th) and 100m butterfly (failing to advance to the final)

Tennis

The stage is set for an exciting men’s singles final:

• Serbia’s Novak Djokovic defeated Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti (6-4, 6-2) to reach his first Olympic gold medal match
• Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz beat Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime (6-1, 6-1) to set up a rematch of the 2024 Wimbledon final against Djokovic

Djokovic and Alcaraz Set to Clash in Historic Olympic Tennis Final

Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis superstar, has secured his first-ever berth in an Olympic tennis final, bringing him one step closer to winning the elusive gold medal that has been missing from his impressive list of accomplishments. In a thrilling semifinal match, Djokovic defeated Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti with a score of 6-4, 6-2, taking the last four games to seal the victory.

Upon securing his spot in the final, Djokovic celebrated by falling back on the clay court, his limbs spread apart in a pose typically reserved for winning championships. “This,” he said, “is a big deal.”

A Clash of Generations

Djokovic, who already holds the men’s record for most Grand Slam titles (24) and the most weeks at No. 1 in the tennis rankings, will face Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in the men’s singles title match on Sunday. The final will be a battle between two generations of tennis greats:

• Djokovic, at 37 years old, is the oldest man to play in a Summer Games tennis final
• Alcaraz, at 21 years old, is the youngest man to reach the Olympic final since Vincent Richards of the U.S. in 1924

“The way he’s playing, he’s definitely a favorite,” Djokovic said of his upcoming opponent.

A Chance for Serbia’s First Higher Medal

Djokovic’s best Olympic result to date was a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Games. Now, he is guaranteed to win at least a silver medal for Serbia. “Just to secure a higher medal for the first time for my country, whatever happens on Sunday, is a huge, obviously pride and honor and happiness — and that’s why I celebrated the way I did,” he explained. “I still need to celebrate, because it’s a big success, of course.”

A Rematch of Wimbledon Finals

The Olympic final will be a rematch of the past two Wimbledon finals, both won by Alcaraz, including the one that took place just three weeks ago. Alcaraz, who also won the French Open in June, knows the challenge that lies ahead. “It’s always really difficult facing Novak, in every round,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the first round or final.”

Djokovic’s Path to the Final

Djokovic’s journey to the Olympic final has not been without its challenges. He suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during the French Open and underwent surgery on June 5. Despite feeling “sharp pain” during his quarterfinal match against Stefanos Tsitsipas, Djokovic appeared to be in good form against Musetti, thanks to the work of his physiotherapist. “It didn’t bother me at all,” Djokovic said of his knee, “so I’m really glad there’s nothing serious about it.”

However, Djokovic did show signs of nerves during the semifinal, visibly bothered by factors such as the wind, footing, and chair umpire warnings. He gestured frequently at his team in the stands, muttering and even yelling at times. Despite these distractions, his tennis remained on point, and he quickly regrouped after being broken at the start of the second set.

Overcoming Olympic Hurdles

Prior to this year’s Olympics, Djokovic had a 0-3 record in Olympic semifinals, losing to the eventual champion each time:

Djokovic had spoken about this “hurdle” repeatedly leading up to the Paris Games, emphasizing how much it means to him to represent his country and his desire to improve upon his 2008 bronze medal.

The Significance of the Gold Medal

For Djokovic, winning the gold medal would not only add to his already impressive legacy but also fulfill a long-held dream of achieving Olympic glory for Serbia. “It’s a big deal for me,” he said. “I’ve been working hard for this moment, and I’m going to give it my all on Sunday.”

Alcaraz, on the other hand, has the opportunity to make history as one of the youngest Olympic tennis champions ever. A victory would solidify his status as the new face of men’s tennis and set the stage for a potential rivalry with Djokovic in the years to come.

Other Noteworthy Events

• Czechia’s Katerina Siniakova and Tomas Machac won gold in mixed doubles tennis
• Morocco stunned the U.S. men’s soccer team 4-0, ending their medal hopes
• American high jumper Vashti Cunningham advanced to her third consecutive Olympic final
• U.S. sprinters Melissa Jefferson, Twanisha Terry, and Sha’Carri Richardson all qualified for the 100m semifinals