Alcaraz says pressure of playing for Spain got to him in loss to Djokovic in Olympics final

Carlos Alcaraz falls short of gold at Paris Olympics, feeling pressure of playing for Spain in emotional loss to Djokovic.

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 August 4.

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.