Novak Djokovic is one win away from an elusive gold medal at the Olympics. Standing in his path is the current best player in the world: reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.
They will be squaring off for the seventh time in their careers and for the second time this summer when they battle for gold in Paris on Sunday. Alcaraz tied up the head-to-head series with a dominant performance in the Wimbledon final a month ago, rolling 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) in a match that was not even as competitive as the third-set score suggests. The Spaniard also triumphed over Djokovic in the 2023 final at the All-England Club–that one in five sets–before the Serb survived a 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4) thriller in the Cincinnati title tilt.
Djokovic is back at Roland Garros after suffering a torn medial meniscus at the French Open, forcing him out of the tournament prior to the quarterfinals. The 37-year-old made a quick recovery to suit up for Wimbledon and capitalized on a favorable draw to reach the final. He has looked better at these Olympics, rolling into the final and securing a medal thanks to victories over Matthew Ebden, Rafael Nadal, Dominik Koepfer, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Lorenzo Musetti. Djokovic has not dropped a single set, although that unblemished record required a monumental second-set collapse by Tsitsipas on Thursday.
Alcaraz has been the best player on tour all summer long and nothing has changed at the Olympics. The world No. 3 is through to the gold-medal showdown following defeats of Hady Habib, Tallon Griekspoor, Roman Safiullin, Tommy Paul, and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Alcaraz is also perfect in sets and Auger-Aliassime took a grand total of two games in Friday’s first semifinal.
Although the 21-year-old is a clear favorite, all the pressure is on Djokovic. A gold medal is one of the two missing puzzle pieces in Djokovic’s career along with a calendar-year Grand Slam. When he was one match away from the latter in 2021, he got blown out by Daniil Medvedev in the U.S. Open final.
Djokovic was already looking mentally fragile against Musetti, which doesn’t bode well even though he managed to get the job done in routine straight sets. With by far his toughest opponent on the other side of the net on Sunday, Djokovic’s dream will likely come to an end at Alcaraz’s hands in convincing fashion.
Pick: Alcaraz in 2
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Got to give it to Djokovic – he won against all odds, albeit doing what he’s done hide entire career…feigning injury in the lead-up in order to gain a significant psychological advantage. Still, there can be no excuses for Alcaraz. All the players on tour are well aware of Djokovic’s legal cheating and, by now, should know better than to fall for his fake injuries and subsequently underestimate him. Tennis is a psychological game and Djokovic has capitalised on his unique way of cheating throughout his entire career. Alcaraz only has himself to blame. Kudos to Djokovic, though – he’s never been blessed with the natural talent and coordination of Federer and Nadal, but he’s found a way to overcome the deficit. Is it right of him to cheat? Hell, no. But it’s not illegal, either. To the victor go the spoils.
what cheating, idiot?
Either you’re a Serb or you’ve been living under a rock all this time, which is kind of the same thing. Most of his contemporaries have called him out for his cheating at one point or another, as well as many journalists and tennis commentators. In fact, only two days ago when he faked a recurrence of his knee injury, he was called out again. The fact is, he’s not the most gifted player and he’s relied heavily on faking injury throughout his career in order to gain an edge over his opponents. Like I said, it’s cheating…but until the governing body enforces a rule whereby players are required to provide evidence of claimed injuries, it will be allowed as a form of ‘legal cheating’. Thankfully, his career is in its twilight and, hopefully, the sport doesn’t attract any more players of his ilk, as it’s not a good look for the sport.
hahaha…salty, ridiculous comment. Likely you don’t really watch much tennis. Goat has just stamped his Goatness into eternity. And no I am not a Serb…
His GOAT status is subjective but largely irrelevant. As he’s universally despised for his arrogance and cheating, he’ll be largely forgotten soon after retiring. He had the highest number of slams but his legacy will be that of an egocentric, mediocre player whose narcissistic personality ensured his obsession with winning at all costs, even if it meant constantly cheating. As for the true GOAT…that honour will be hotly debated in the years to come but it will ultimately be Federer or Nada, but most likely Federer for obvious reasons.
Djokovic is despised by sad muppets like yourself. Hilarious to think of you watching this match as Djokovic puts the likes of you through pain yet again, as you stumble around to find reasons to imagine you’re looking down from a height at such a man as Djokovic, who is in truth a millions times the person you will ever be.
You hate Djokovic because he isn’t a servile lackey like yourself.
Of course I’m looking down on him from a great height. After all, he is a Serb. More than that, though, I’m disappointed for players like Alcaraz who, despite possessing a skill set far superior to Djokovic’s, remains incapable of calling his bluff whenever he fakes one of his many injuries. It’s difficult for a player to prepare for a match when they see their opponent seriously injured, ostensibly, and therefore deemed to not be a threat, as the uninjured player under prepares, believing they’re facing an opponent who isn’t anywhere near their best level. Then, when it becomes obvious the opponent was faking all along and springs out of the box 100% fit and healthy, it’s all too late – it’s over. All I’m saying is kudos to Djokovic because, as long as the other players aren’t willing to stoop to his low level of sportsmanship, he’ll continue to capitalise and he’s certainly entitled to do so. It’s not Djokovic’s fault his contemporaries continue to fall for his tricks time and again. I think the upside, though, is that this form of cheating is limited to Djokovic, and is hopefully not adopted by any players in the future, as it’s a blight on the great game of tennis. Journalists are already whispering that Djokovic’s legacy is tainted and that he won’t be remembered alongside Federer and Nadal as a great of the game. I think this is fair, given both of the aforementioned transformed the tennis landscape and gave so much to the game. Alcaraz losing today is no skin off my nose, as I’m not really invested in him. I’m invested in tennis and I therefore take comfort in the fact that Djokovic will soon be gone and forgotten, while the true champions of the game, such as Federer, Nadal etc, will be remembered and revered throughout history and by countless generations of future stars of the game. Both relied on talent alone and neither had to rely on cheating to win. Had either stooped as low as Djokovic, each man would be sitting on at least 30 majors by now.
This has really rattled your cage, buddy boy…
Regardless of how much I may disagree with you Peter, there’s no virtue in my attacking your so I apologise for my comments.
You, Andrew, are a reminder that there is still much good in this world, and indeed good people. Your equanimity is impressive and greatly appreciated. Mine was only an opinion, but I realise how it might impact on others…so I, too, apologise. I think the beauty of our society is that we can have differing opinions and yet still be kind to one another, as you’ve proven. For what it’s worth, I don’t think Novak’s a bad person at all, on a personal level. Not someone I have tremendous respect for but, at the same time, not a bad person by any means.
Nice to finish on such a note Peter! All the best.
Lolz
As usual I am a genius
So Djokovic rams it down the throats of all the poor folk who hate him yet again. To quote Nietzsche, “Where the rabble drinks, all wells are poisoned.” Poor rabble.
I’m so happy for Novak Djokovic, he finally got gold 💪👍💯.
I’m a huge fan of Novak and other tennis players as well but I find Peter’s critic of Djokovic a little bit interesting I will read all the comments later just a little busy now.