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Novak Djokovic insists Carlos Alcaraz would be the “favorite” for Olympic gold on Sunday within the newest instalment of tennis’s generational energy seize. At 37, Djokovic can be the oldest Olympic tennis singles champion for the reason that sport returned to the Video games at Seoul in 1988. At 21, Alcaraz can be the youngest of all time. A win for the Serb can be his first gold medal on the fifth try and signify a big improve on the bronze he gained at Beijing in 2008.
Victory would additionally enable Djokovic to turn out to be solely the fifth participant to finish the Golden Slam of all 4 majors plus an Olympic title.
Solely Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Steffi Graf could make comparable boasts.
Nonetheless, Djokovic goes into Sunday’s high-profile conflict nonetheless bruised by being swept off courtroom by Alcaraz in a one-sided Wimbledon remaining simply three weeks in the past.
“I do not contemplate myself a favorite as a result of Alcaraz has confirmed he is one of the best participant on the planet,” mentioned Djokovic pointing to the Spaniard’s uncommon achievement of successful the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back.
“He gained Roland Garros, he gained Wimbledon and beat me within the remaining fairly comfortably there.”
Regardless of his warning, Djokovic is nothing if not fired up for his seventh profession conflict towards the Spanish crowd-pleaser.
In his stormy semi-final win over Lorenzo Musetti, he was warned for swearing and screamed at his assist group watching nervously on Court docket Philippe Chatrier.
He’s acutely conscious that Paris 2024 is his final likelihood to lastly seize an elusive gold.
“I used to be fascinated by all of the semi-finals that I misplaced within the Olympic Video games and that is why I used to be very tense on the courtroom. I used to be very nervous, a whole lot of feelings.”
Djokovic and Alcaraz have made the ultimate with out dropping a set whereas the Serb appeared to don’t have any opposed response to aggravating his proper knee harm throughout a last-eight win towards Stefanos Tsitsipas.
‘Make Spain proud’
He additionally believes he is a “completely different participant” to the one crushed so badly at Wimbledon.
“In the best way I transfer, the best way I am hanging the ball,” defined Djokovic, who has gained three of his 24 Grand Slam titles in Paris.
“To not take something away from him successful the Wimbledon remaining, he was dominating and deservedly a winner, however I really feel extra assured about myself and my possibilities within the remaining.”
The 2 males have met twice on clay with Alcaraz on prime of their first assembly in Madrid in 2022 whereas Djokovic prevailed within the French Open semi-finals final yr.
Alcaraz suffered physique cramps in that loss, an element he attributed to the stress of going through Djokovic.
Alcaraz is the fourth Spanish man to achieve the Olympic males’s remaining after Jordi Arrese at Barcelona in 1992, Sergi Bruguera in Atlanta 4 years later and Nadal who gained gold at Beijing in 2008.
“I’ve imagined (successful gold),” admitted Alcaraz. “I’ve considered it and visualised it.
“It’s one thing that enhances my temper, that offers me power to maintain going ahead, continue learning, and provides all my finest day by day.”
Victory on Sunday would enable Alcaraz to affix Graf and Nadal as the one gamers to win the French Open, Wimbledon and Olympic gold in the identical yr.
“We’re one step nearer. I might love so as to add my title subsequent to Steffi’s and Rafa’s, two legends from sport on the whole.
“However I’ll strive not to consider each stat, the issues I may obtain … I’ll attempt to keep away from all that, and maintain enhancing, and provides my finest, and make Spanish folks proud.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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