Tennis legend Boris Becker has declared Novak Djokovic as the “clear favorite” for the gold medal in men’s singles at the Paris Olympics, placing him ahead of rising star Carlos Alcaraz. Becker, a former world No. 1 and Djokovic’s coach from 2014 to 2016, believes that Djokovic’s impressive form and recent victories make him the top contender for the Olympic title.
Djokovic, aiming for his first Olympic gold medal, is the only major accolade missing from his illustrious career. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is participating in his fifth Olympics and has been in formidable form. His recent triumph over Rafael Nadal, with a decisive 6-1, 6-4 score in the second round at Stade Roland Garros, showcased his exceptional fitness and skill.
The 37-year-old Serbian’s best Olympic result came in 2008 in Beijing, where he won the bronze medal by defeating James Blake. Djokovic is the top seed in the Paris Games and could potentially face Alcaraz, the No. 2 seed, in the gold medal match. Alcaraz, who is making his Olympic debut, has been in stellar form, winning both Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the past two months.
Alcaraz, the 21-year-old Spanish sensation, recently defeated Djokovic in straight sets at Wimbledon to successfully defend his title. Despite this recent setback, Becker remains confident in Djokovic’s prospects. “Before the tournament started, I put Novak Djokovic as the favorite,” Becker told Eurosport. “Now, Jannik Sinner has defaulted, but Carlos Alcaraz is still very much in the draw. I think Novak has a good chance to at least medal. I would say Djokovic is the clear favorite.”
Becker praised Djokovic’s physical condition, noting, “He’s won every other title. That was a big win for him [against Nadal], so he must feel good about his chances. But then you still have Alcaraz.” Becker highlighted Djokovic’s remarkable fitness at 37, emphasizing his dedication to maintaining a lifestyle and diet focused entirely on tennis. “Novak is exceptional. He’s incredibly fit at 37, and he takes great care of himself,” Becker said, acknowledging that Djokovic’s age is a factor but not a deterrent.
Djokovic will face Dominik Koepfer, ranked 70th in the world, in the third round on Wednesday, while Alcaraz will compete against Roman Safiullin, who is ranked 66th.
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