Novak Djokovic sends threat to Carlos Alcaraz as Serb seeks revenge for Wimbledon | Tennis | Sport
Novak Djokovic has admitted he’s on the lookout for revenge when he meets Carlos Alcaraz in the Olympic singles final.
Djokovic missed out on a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title last month, having been schooled by Alcaraz in the final at the All England Club.
Alcaraz romped to a straight-set victory during the pair’s mid-July encounter, while confirming back-to-back Wimbledon final victories over 24-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic.
But Djokovic has vowed to go all out when he takes to court Philippe-Chatrier tomorrow afternoon for the Paris 2024 gold medal match against Alcaraz.
Speaking after his semi-final victory over Lorenzo Musetti, Djokovic said: “Although we played once [here], I beat him in the semis, I lost to him in the final of Wimbledon quite comfortably.
“Different surface… I feel like I’m playing and moving better than I did at Wimbledon, so hopefully I’ll come out and play my best tennis and in a way, I have nothing to lose as I’ve already secured a medal, so I’m going to go for it.”
There’s an added pressure on Djokovic heading into the gold medal match, given the 37-year-old has never topped the podium at the Olympics.
Making his debut at the Beijing Games 14 years ago, Djokovic does boast an Olympic medal, but only a bronze one – something he’s keen to change this weekend.
He added: “It was such a tense match [against Musetti], a lot of emotions. So much expectation and stress coming into today’s match, particularly [trying] to secure a medal for my country.
“A first final of the Olympics for me [so] I’m thrilled. Obviously I want to win the gold, in a few days’ time.
“I’m going to do my best to do that, but already this is a huge result for me under these circumstances and I was very nervous today, and before the match, I lost three out of four semi-finals of the Olympic Games that I’ve played in my career, so I really wanted to get through this hurdle.”
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Remarkably, Djokovic enters the clash as the underdog, with Alcaraz the form player heading into Sunday’s match as the form player.
Alcaraz has won two of his last three tournaments, both of them Grand Slams, with the 21-year-old looking to add to his already illustrious honours list.
Gold at his debut Games will only serve to enhance Alcaraz’s status as one of – if not the – best in the tennis world right now.
