PARIS — Emotional and tearful, Carlos Alcaraz needed a moment to collect himself after losing to Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles final at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.
Alcaraz, who hoped to become the youngest-ever champion and replicate Rafael Nadal’s feat of winning a gold medal for Spain in his first singles attempt, had to settle for silver after a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) loss to Djokovic at Court Philippe Chatrier. He admitted that the pressure of playing for Spain affected him.
“I think I put more pressure on myself because I was playing for Spain, for the Spaniards,” Alcaraz said. “I felt that I let the Spanish people down by not winning the gold.”
Alcaraz, 21, noted that this pressure was different from what he experienced in the four Grand Slam finals he has played — and won — so far.
“It was a different type of pressure,” Alcaraz said. “Everyone in Spain wanted me to win the gold, and I wanted to win the gold as well.”
He said this extra pressure affected him, especially in crucial moments of the game.
“In those difficult moments I usually raise my level, but I wasn’t able to do that today,” Alcaraz said. “Probably I felt the pressure in those situations. You play four Grand Slams every year; the Olympics is only once every four years.”
Despite the loss, Alcaraz said he was proud of his effort.
“Obviously this week, this tournament has been really special for me,” Alcaraz 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.”
He arrived in Paris with high expectations, especially since he was playing doubles with his childhood idol Nadal, who won the singles gold in his Olympic debut in Beijing in 2008. However, 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 final against Djokovic was a rematch of the past two Wimbledon finals, both won by Alcaraz, including one 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.”
