Olympic tennis showdown: Djokovic vs. Alcaraz for the gold..

The Olympic stage is set for a thrilling tennis finale as Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz prepare to face off in the men's singles gold-medal match on Sunday. This highly anticipated encounter is a repeat of last month's Wimbledon final, where the young Spaniard claimed a memorable victory.

Djokovic, the holder of a men's record 24 Grand Slam titles, advanced to the final with a convincing 6-4, 6-2 victory over Italy's Lorenzo Musetti. The 37-year-old Serbian star, despite his illustrious career, has never won an Olympic gold medal. He has previously secured a bronze in Beijing in 2008 and finished fourth in Tokyo in 2021, making this his best opportunity to complete his trophy cabinet.

Djokovic's straightforward win over Musetti contrasted sharply with their grueling five-set encounter at the French Open just two months ago, which stretched into the early hours. Now, Djokovic faces a daunting challenge against the formidable Carlos Alcaraz, who has been in scintillating form.

Alcaraz, the second seed and rising star, demolished Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 6-1 in his semi-final, showcasing his dominance. The 21-year-old has had a sensational year, already securing titles at both the French Open and Wimbledon. Sunday's match will mark his third major final in just two months, cementing his status as one of tennis's brightest talents.

In the women's tournament, world number one Iga Swiatek rebounded from a disappointing loss to China's Zheng Qinwen to secure bronze. The Pole's remarkable 25-match winning streak on Parisian clay was snapped in the semi-finals, but she showed resilience by defeating Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-2, 6-1 in just 61 minutes. This victory not only added an Olympic bronze to her collection of five Grand Slam titles but also marked Poland's first Olympic tennis medal.

The mixed doubles competition saw Czech duo Katerina Siniakova and Tomas Machac claim gold, overcoming China's Wang Xinyu and Zhang Zhizhen in a thrilling match that ended 6-2, 5-7, 10-8. Meanwhile, Canadians Felix Auger-Aliassime and Gabriela Dabrowski secured bronze by defeating Demi Schuurs and Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands.

As the Olympic tennis tournament reaches its climax, all eyes will be on Djokovic and Alcaraz. For Djokovic, it's a chance to achieve the elusive Olympic gold, while Alcaraz will be aiming to solidify his meteoric rise with another major title. With both players at the top of their game, Sunday's showdown promises to be an unforgettable clash of generations.