“You've already got the silver, now bring the gold for Germany,” Boris Becker, the legend, had told Alexander Zverev before the game. And the 24-year-old German complied. Defeated Karen Khachanov with authority, 6-3 and 6-1, and achieved the second Olympic gold in tennis in the history of his country, after that of Steffi Graf 33 years ago, in Seoul 1988. The year he fastened the Golden Slam (the big four and the Olympic title). The achievement that Novak Djokovic was looking for and which Zverev slammed the door on. Pablo Carreño, who accompanied them on the podium, also deprived the Serbian of bronze.
“I had not felt anything like it in my life. It is the best week of my life,” summed up the German after beating Khachanov, 25th in the world. The number five, finalist of the US Open 2020 and champion of the Masters in 2018, achieved the best victory of his career. “I have not played for myself for a second,” but for my country, he later said excitedly.
Zverev was the favorite against the Muscovite formed in Barcelona and did not let him get into the game at any time. Having beaten Djokovic in the semifinals, he did not miss his chance.