When Novak Djokovic’s first berth in an Olympics tennis final was secured, when he was assured of a chance to win the gold medal that’s missing from his lengthy list of accomplishments, he fell back on the clay, limbs spread apart — the sort of pose generally reserved for securing a championship.

“This,” he said after beating Lorenzo Musetti of Italy 6-4, 6-2 by taking the last four games, “is a big deal.”

Already the owner of a men’s-record 24 Grand Slam titles and more weeks at No. 1 in the rankings than anyone in tennis history, Djokovic will try to add to his legacy when he faces Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday in the men’s singles title match.

Alcaraz was even more dominant in Friday’s semifinals, eliminating Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada 6-1, 6-1.

Djokovic is 37, which makes him the oldest man to play in a Summer Games tennis final. Alcaraz is 21, which makes him the youngest.

“The way he’s playing, he’s definitely a favorite,” said Djokovic, who came into Friday 0-3 in Olympics semifinals.

• Iga Swiatek of Poland defeated Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia for the bronze.

In the men’s doubles semifinals Friday, Matt Ebden and John Peers of Australia defeated Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul of the United States 7-5, 6-2. They will go up against another American duo, fourth-seeded Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram, for the gold.

In women’s doubles, Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini of Italy advanced to the gold-medal match with a 6-3, 6-2 victory against Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic.

American teams each win twice in pool play

Canyon Barry carried the short-handed U.S. men’s team to two victories in 3x3 pool play.

Barry, the son of NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry, scored 14 points in a 21-17 win over China in the nightcap after dropping 15 in a 21-19 victory over France earlier Friday.

The U.S., which played without star Jimmer Fredette for a third straight game because of a lower extremity injury, had dropped its first four games of the tournament.

• Hailey Van Lith delivered a message after the defending champion U.S. posted its third straight win with an overtime victory against Canada in women’s 3x3 pool play following three straight losses to start the tournament.

“We have a lot of tweets bookmarked on how we shouldn’t come back to the States,” she said. “So we haven’t forgotten.”

Rhyne Howard’s 2-point shot in overtime lifted the U.S. to an 18-17 win over Canada after the Americans beat France 14-13 earlier Friday.

Van Lith made a 2-point shot with 22 seconds left to tie it at 16 and force overtime, where the first team to score two points wins.

Canada scored first in OT. Howard, who was 0 for 5 from long range in regulation, then drained the winning basket.

Richardson moves on in 100 meters

Sha’Carri Richardson won her first-ever race at the Olympics. Richardson ran a blazing opening round in the 100 meters in 10.94 seconds to easily qualify for the semifinals.

Wearing neon green shoes, which contrasted well against the bright purple track, the American captured the first of eight first-round races.

The U.S. mixed 4x400 meter relay team set a world record when Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon and Kaylyn Brown finished the four laps in 3 minutes, 7.41 seconds to break the mark of 3:08.80 set at world championships last year.

All the record did was place the Americans in today’s final, where the record — in an event that is only 5 years old — will be in jeopardy once again.

U.S. surfer Marks into medal rounds

American surfer Caroline Marks has advanced to today’s medal rounds in the women’s competition after defeating Tyler Wright of Australia, 7.77-5.37. Marks will face Johanne Defay of France in a semifinal. DeFay eliminated American Carissa Moore, 10.34-6.50 in a quarterfinal.

• American archers Brady Ellison and Casey Kaufhold defeated Ankita Bhakat and Dhiraj Bommadevara of India 6-2 to claim Olympic bronze in the mixed team category.

• On the beach, the U.S. women’s teams of Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng, and Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth both won pool play matches, while the men’s team of Miles Evans and Chase Budinger lost in pool play.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo had 20 points and seven rebounds as Greece outlasted Australia 77-71 to keep alive its hopes of advancing to next week’s quarterfinal round in men’s basketball.

• American sailors Ian Barrows and Hanks Henken won the bronze medal in skiff.

• Saya Sakakibara won the gold medal in the women’s BMX, shortly after her partner Romain Mahieu took bronze to complete a French sweep of the men’s race. Sakakibara beat American rider Alise Willoughby to the first corner and was never tested again. Willoughby, the three-time world champion, was shuffled back after the first corner and finished sixth.

• Britain won the team jumping event for its second equestrian gold medal at the Paris Games. Ben Maher riding Dallas Vegas Batilly, Harry Charles aboard Romeo 88 and Scott Brash on Jefferson had just two penalty points among them at the Palace of Versailles, with the U.S. taking the silver medal and host France finishing with the bronze. The American team featuring Laura Kraut riding Baloutinue, Karl Cook aboard Caracole de La Roque and veteran McLain Ward on Ilex had four penalty points.

• Chiara Leone earned Switzerland’s first gold, winning the women’s 50-meter rifle three positions shooting. Leone narrowly edged Sagen Maddalena of the United States by 1.4 points in the final.