PARIS — Emotional and unable to hold back tears, Carlos Alcaraz needed a moment to compose himself after losing to Novak Djokovic in the men’s tennis singles final at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.
There would be no youngest-ever champion and no repeating Rafael Nadal’s feat of winning a gold medal for Spain in his first attempt in singles.
Alcaraz settled for silver after a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) loss to Djokovic at Court Philippe Chatrier, saying the pressure of playing for his country got to him.
“I think I put more pressure on myself because I was playing for Spain, for the Spaniards,” he said. “I felt that I let the Spanish people down by not winning the gold.”
The 21-year-old Alcaraz said he had not felt that type of pressure in the four Grand Slam finals that he played — and won — so far in his career.
“It was a different type of pressure,” he said. “Everyone in Spain wanted me to win the gold, and I wanted to win the gold as well.”
Alcaraz said the extra pressure cost him especially in the decisive moments of the game.
“In those difficult moments I usually raise my level, but I wasn’t able to do that today,” he said. “Probably I felt the pressure in those situations. You play four Grand Slams every year, the Olympics is only once every four years.”
Alcaraz said there was still reason for him to be proud after “knowing that I gave everything.”
“Obviously this week, this tournament has been really special for me,” he said. “I’m going to take it for the rest of my life, for the rest of my career, for sure. Playing with Rafa, getting my first Olympics medal — hopefully not the last one — it’s been a special one.”
Alcaraz arrived in Paris amid the hype of playing the doubles tournament alongside his childhood idol Nadal, who won the singles gold in his Olympic debut in Beijing in 2008.
Alcaraz and Nadal lost 6-2, 6-4 to the fourth-seeded American duo of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in last week’s quarterfinals.
The game against Djokovic was a rematch of the past two Wimbledon finals, both won by Alcaraz, including last month.
“In the close moments, in the difficult situations, in the tiebreakers, he played an impressive game,” Alcaraz said of Djokovic. “He was hungry for the gold medal. He was going to go for it.”
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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz recently opened up about the pressure he felt while representing his country at the Tokyo Olympics, citing it as a factor in his loss to Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals.
Alcaraz, who is just 18 years old and considered one of the rising stars in the sport, faced off against the world number one Djokovic in what was a highly anticipated match. Despite putting up a strong fight, Alcaraz ultimately fell to Djokovic in straight sets.
In a post-match interview, Alcaraz admitted that the pressure of playing for Spain at such a prestigious event like the Olympics weighed heavily on him. He acknowledged that he may have let the magnitude of the occasion get to him, affecting his performance on the court.
The young Spaniard’s honesty and self-awareness in acknowledging the impact of pressure on his game is commendable. It is not uncommon for athletes to struggle with the mental aspect of competing at major events, especially when representing their country.
Alcaraz’s experience serves as a reminder of the mental challenges that athletes face, regardless of their skill level or experience. The pressure to perform at a high level can be overwhelming, and learning how to manage it is a crucial aspect of success in sports.
Despite his loss to Djokovic, Alcaraz’s performance at the Olympics was still impressive, and he should be proud of his achievements. As he continues to develop and grow as a player, he will undoubtedly learn how to better handle the pressures of competing on the international stage.
Overall, Alcaraz’s candid admission about the impact of pressure on his game provides valuable insight into the mental side of sports. It serves as a reminder that even the most talented athletes can struggle with the mental challenges of competition, and that learning how to manage pressure is an essential skill for success in sports.
