Serbia’s legendary tennis star
Novak Djokovic has warned Spain’s
Carlos Alcaraz ahead of the Paris Olympics final. The 37-year-old is often regarded as the greatest player in the history of men’s tennis in the Open
era, having won as many as 24 Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic is currently participating in the Paris Olympics. In the singles category, he has booked his place in the final after beating Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-2. He is set to face Alcaraz in the all-important clash for the Olympic gold medal, who
defeated Canada’s Felix Auger Aliassime in the semifinal in straight sets with
a score of 6-1, 6-1.
It will be the second meeting between the two in the final
of a mega-event. Both recently played in the final at Wimbledon, where the 21-year-old came out on top in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2, 7-6. Djokovic, while talking to the media ahead of the encounter, admitted that he will not be the favourite for the contest as he will be playing against Alcaraz, who is currently the ‘best player in the world’ in men’s tennis.
However, the former world number one believes that he is in much better shape than he was when the two met recently in the final at Wimbledon. The Belgrade-born legendary star believes that the contest will be anyone’s game as it will be the first time the two will meet at Roland Garros since the 2023 semifinal of the French Open, where Djokovic came out on top.
“I don’t consider myself a favourite on Sunday because
Alcaraz has proven [he is] the best player in the world at the moment,” he said.
“He won Roland Garros, he won Wimbledon, beat me in the finals quite
comfortable there, reached the finals [here] without dropping a set. I mean I
did too but I think the way he is playing, he’s definitely a favourite. But
it’s Olympics, it’s really anybody’s game I think. We haven’t faced each other
on clay in a while, I think the only time we played here was last year’s
semi-final of Roland Garros. I feel like I’m a different player than I was in
Wimbledon, the way I move, the way I’m striking the ball. Not to take anything
away from his win in Wimbledon finals, he was dominating and deservedly a
winner, but I feel more confident about myself and my chances in the finals.”
