Record number of head-to-head matches and everything you need to know about the Djokovic-Alcaraz match that begins on Sunday at 12:00, the latest installment of a fascinating rivalry between veterans and veterans.
Paris prepares for the men’s singles tennis duel between the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz y Novak Djokovicset for 12:00 CET, 14:00 Spanish time, on Sunday in Roland Garros.
As Alcaraz’s semi-final in Paris ended on Friday afternoon, before Djokovic played his subsequent semi-final that night, the 21-year-old Spaniard was asked what it would be like to face the 37-year-old Serbian again. “Hopefully,” Alcaraz said with a laugh, “just like at Wimbledon.” This is what you need to know about the men’s singles tennis finalParis 2024 Olympic Games.
Why is the duel between Djokovic and Alcaraz for gold in men’s singles important?
Djokovic is the oldest man in an Olympic tennis singles finalwhile Alcaraz is the youngest.
Djokovic is considered by many to be the greatest male tennis player in history, a stance reinforced by statistics such as his 24 Grand Slam titles (more than any other man) and his more than 400 weeks at number 1 in the rankings (more than any other man or woman). Basically, He only lacks one thing on his resume: An Olympic gold.
Before beating Lorenzo Musetti in Paris on Friday, Djokovic had been 0-3 in the semifinals of the Summer Games, losing to the eventual champion each time – Rafael Nadal in Beijing, Andy Murray in London, Alexander Zverev in Tokyo.
Djokovic left the 2008 Olympics with a bronze, but now he was eager to improve it. “I know,” Musetti said, “how much it means to (him) to win a gold.”
Alcaraz is the best there is right now in this sportafter adding his recent triumph at Wimbledon which he achieved in June in the French Openwhich is contested annually at Roland Garros, the clay court facility used for the tennis competition at the Paris Games.
In 2022, it became the first teenager to reach number 1 in the ATP rankings and now he has four Grand Slam titlesthe first man to win at least one on clay, grass and hard court before the age of 22.
“Alcaraz has shown be the best player in the world right now“said Djokovic, who was seeded No. 1 at the Olympics after top-seeded Jannik Sinner withdrew because of tonsillitis.
Alcaraz was seeded No. 2, but other players tend to agree with Djokovic’s assessment. “It’s no secret that, right now,” said American Tommy Paul, who lost to the Spanish star in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and the Olympics, “Alcaraz is something like the golden banner“.
Why is Djokovic wearing a gray knee sleeve at the Olympics?
Djokovic tore the meniscus in his right knee during a fourth-round victory at the French Open on June 3, and underwent surgery in Paris two days later. Most people thought he would have to give up Wimbledon, which started on July 1, and the Olympics.
However, he turned up at the All England Club with a gray sleeve on his right knee and, although it took a few games to get going, he ended up looking like himself. Until he faced Alcaraz for the title.
At the Paris Olympics, there was only one match in which the knee was a problem, when he felt pain in the second set of a victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals on Thursday night.
However, he worked a lot with his physiotherapist from then until his match against Musetti, in which everything went well. “I feel like I’m a different player than I was at Wimbledon.. The way I move. The way I hit the ball,” said Djokovic, who eliminated Nadal in the second round in Paris.
“I feel more confident in myself and my chances in the final” on Sunday, he said.
Is Djokovic or Alcaraz the betting favorite for gold?
The betting houses say that Alcaraz is the big favorite to win the men’s singles finalaccording to Oddschecker, which gives him odds of 2/5, while Djokovic is given 21/10.
What is the history between Djokovic and Alcaraz?
They have faced a total of six times, with three victories for each.
The only time they played on Court Philippe Chatrier was in the semi-finals of the 2023 French Open. Djokovic won 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 when Alcaraz suffered full-body cramps during both matches. last sets.
