Sunday’s matchup within the actual installment of a captivating old-vs.-young competition that integrated a matchup within the Wimbledon ultimate 3 weeks in the past.
PARIS, France — Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are assembly for the boys’s tennis singles gold medal on the Paris Olympics on Sunday within the actual installment of a fascinating old-vs.-young rivalry that integrated a matchup within the Wimbledon final 3 weeks in the past.
Alcaraz gained that one — “Quite comfortably,” Djokovic said — similar to he did after they performed each and every alternative for terminating 12 months’s trophy on the All England Membership.
When Alcaraz’s semifinal in Paris ended Friday afternoon — ahead of Djokovic performed in his nearest semifinal that night time — the 21-year-old Spaniard was once requested what it could be love to in all probability rush at the 37-year-old Serbian once more.
“Hopefully,” Alcaraz stated with a laugh, “the same as Wimbledon.”
Here’s what else to understand in regards to the males’s tennis singles ultimate:
Why does Djokovic vs. Alcaraz for the boys’s tennis singles gold topic?
Djokovic is the oldest man in an Olympic tennis singles ultimate; Alcaraz is the youngest.
Djokovic is thought of as through many to be the greatest men’s tennis player in history, a stance strengthened through statistics equivalent to his 24 Lavish Slam titles (greater than any alternative guy) and his 400-plus weeks spent at Incorrect. 1 within the scores (greater than any guy or lady).
There’s mainly only one factor lacking from his resume: an Olympic gold. Prior to beating Lorenzo Musetti in Paris on Friday, Djokovic have been 0-3 in Summer season Video games semifinals, dropping to the eventual champion each and every month — Rafael Nadal in Beijing, Andy Murray in London, Alexander Zverev in Tokyo.
Djokovic left the 2008 Olympics with a bronze, however he actually sought after to toughen on that now.
“I know,” Musetti stated, “how much it means for (him) to win a gold.”
Alcaraz is the best thing going right now within the recreation, having added his fresh Wimbledon triumph to the one who got here in June on the French Discoverable, which is contested every year at Roland Garros, the clay-court facility being worn for the Paris Video games’ tennis festival.
In 2022, he become the primary youngster to succeed in Incorrect. 1 within the ATP scores and now has 4 Lavish Slam titles — the primary guy to win a minimum of one on clay, grass and brittle courts ahead of occasion 22.
“Alcaraz has proven the best player in the world at the moment,” stated Djokovic, who was once seeded Incorrect. 1 on the Olympics then top-ranked Jannik Sinner withdrew as a result of tonsillitis.
Alcaraz was once seeded Incorrect. 2, however alternative avid gamers generally tend to consider Djokovic’s overview.
“It’s not a secret that, right now,” stated American Tommy Paul, who misplaced to the Spanish celebrity within the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and the Olympics, “Alcaraz is kind of like the golden standard.”
Why is Djokovic dressed in a grey sleeve on his knee on the Olympics?
Djokovic tore the meniscus in his proper knee throughout a fourth-round victory on the French Discoverable on June 3, later had surgical operation in Paris two days nearest. Maximum family figured he would wish to skip Wimbledon, which began on July 1, and the Olympics.
He confirmed up on the All England Membership, dressed in a grey sleeve on his proper knee, and age it took him a couple of fits to go away, sooner or later Djokovic regarded very just like himself. Till, this is, he took on Alcaraz for the identify.
On the Summer season Video games, there was once just one fit the place the knee was once a subject — when he felt ache in the second one all set of a victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas within the quarterfinals Thursday night time. However he installed enough quantity of labor along with his physiotherapist between later and his fit towards Musetti, when all was once OK.
“I feel like I’m a different player than I was in Wimbledon. The way I move. The way I’m striking the ball,” stated Djokovic, who eliminated Nadal in the second round in Paris.
“I believe extra assured about myself and possibilities within the ultimate” on Sunday, he stated.
Is Djokovic or Alcaraz the making a bet favourite for the gold?
Alcaraz is liked to win the boys’s singles ultimate, in step with BetMGM Sportsbook, which lists him with a -250 cash order. Djokovic is at +195. If Djokovic manages to win in immediately units, that will repay at +360.
“The way he’s playing,” Djokovic stated, “he’s definitely a favorite.”
The lads’s ultimate is scheduled to be the second one fit at Courtroom Philippe Chatrier on Sunday and gained’t get started ahead of 2 p.m. native month (8 a.m. EDT). To search out the fitting channel, take a look at NBC’s online schedule.
They’ve met a complete of six occasions in the past and each and every guy has gained 3 of the ones fits.
The one month they performed at Courtroom Philippe Chatrier was once within the 2023 French Discoverable semifinals. Djokovic won that one 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 when Alcaraz succumbed to full-body cramps throughout the terminating two units.
