Novak Djokovic praised Carlos Alcaraz as the “best player in the world” ahead of their highly anticipated Olympic final, but also noted that he feels more “confident” than he did before their recent Wimbledon encounter.
Djokovic, the world No. 2 and top seed, secured his place in the Olympic gold medal match with a convincing 6-4, 6-2 victory over 11th seed Lorenzo Musetti. This marks Djokovic’s first appearance in an Olympic gold medal match, guaranteeing him at least a silver medal. To win gold, he will need to overcome Alcaraz, who has reached the final on his Olympic debut.
Both players have been in superb form throughout the tournament, each winning all their matches in straight sets to advance to the final. Their clash in Paris is the second significant final between them in a short span, following Alcaraz’s straight-sets victory over Djokovic at Wimbledon less than a month ago. Alcaraz’s win at Wimbledon came on the back of his triumph at the French Open, marking a stellar season for the 21-year-old Spaniard.
Ahead of their final, Djokovic acknowledged Alcaraz’s current dominance in the sport. “I don’t consider myself the favorite for Sunday because Alcaraz has proven to be the best player in the world at the moment,” Djokovic said. “He won Roland Garros, then Wimbledon, and defeated me comfortably in the Wimbledon final. He’s reached the final here without dropping a set, just like me. The way he’s playing, he’s definitely the favorite.”
Despite recognizing Alcaraz’s formidable form, Djokovic also indicated a sense of renewed confidence. “I feel like I’m a different player now compared to Wimbledon,” Djokovic remarked. “My movement and ball striking have improved. While Alcaraz deserved his win at Wimbledon and played dominantly, I feel more confident about my chances in this final.”
This final will mark the seventh meeting between Djokovic and Alcaraz, with their head-to-head record currently tied at three wins apiece. They previously faced each other on Court Philippe Chatrier, where Djokovic triumphed in the semi-finals of the 2023 French Open.
For Djokovic, this final represents not only a chance to secure his first gold medal but also his first title of 2024. After a slow start to the year and a recent meniscus injury, Djokovic has shown signs of returning to his best form, reaching two major finals and now aiming for Olympic glory.
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