PARIS: For the Olympic gold on August 4, Novak Djokovic is adamant that Carlos Alcaraz will be the “favourite” in the newest generational power grab in tennis.
Since tennis returned to the Olympics in Seoul in 1988, the 37-year-old Serb would be the oldest winner of the individual Olympic tennis competition. Alcaraz would also be the youngest person in history at age 21.
A victory for Djokovic would mark his first gold medal at his fifth Games try and be a major improvement above the bronze he took home from Beijing in 2008.
In addition, if he wins, he would become just the fifth player to win an Olympic gold medal in addition to all four Majors. Comparable boasts can only be made by Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, and Steffi Graf.
Nevertheless, he enters the highly anticipated match still wounded from being easily defeated by Alcaraz in a one-sided Wimbledon final just three weeks prior.
Djokovic stated, “I don’t consider myself a favourite because Alcaraz has proven he’s the best player in the world,” citing the Spaniard’s back-to-back victories at the French Open and Wimbledon.