Carlos Alcaraz has been issued a stern warning about Novak Djokovic after their monumental battle in the Olympic final.
Djokovic, 37, broke down in tears after bagging Olympic gold, the final jewel in his illustrious career crown, following an intense straight-sets win over Alcaraz, 21, at Roland Garros on Sunday. The titanic tussle saw both players holding serve in an electrifying three-hour extravaganza, which Djokovic edged 7-6, 7-6.
It saw the Serbian crowned Olympic champion at the fifth time of asking and become just the third man ever to win the Golden Slam (all four majors and Olympic gold). In the aftermath, Djokovic’s former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, claimed the Serbian was now “the man to beat” ahead of the US Open, which starts on August 26, despite his crushing defeat to Alcaraz in last month’s Wimbledon final.
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“Novak didn’t show up in the Wimbledon finals, but here you could tell… if they stayed for five more hours on that court, the outcome would have been the same. Novak was flying, Novak was dancing,” the Croatian told Tennis Majors.
“If he plays like this, he is the man to beat at the US Open. At Wimbledon, it was a miracle that he even played, let alone reached the finals, but we never know if something similar to this year’s Australian Open can happen. Against Sinner there, he didn’t show up we don’t have a crystal ball, but if he is motivated like here, he will be the favourite in New York.”
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Djokovic wearing his gold medal
An Olympic gold medal was the only major accolade missing from Novak Djokovic’s CV (Image: Getty Images)
Ivanisevic, who coached Djokovic for just under five years, insisted the World No1 was untouchable when fully motivated and suggested that becoming the all-time Grand Slam record holder (he needs just one more to pull away from Margaret Court) will keep the fire underneath him lit for years.
“Only a crazy person would say that he doesn’t have it in him any more,” the Wimbledon champ of 2001 quipped. “When he really wants it, nobody can beat him, regardless of who is across the net.
“I [hope he wins his] 25th Slam, to break the absolute record, and then he can retire, although he will never retire, this guy. I think he can find the motivation, the gold will lift him.”
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After his win on Sunday, Djokovic tipped Alcaraz to win Olympic gold in the future. But if Ivanisevic’s comments are anything to go by, the young Spaniard might need to wait eight years, rather than four, to see the back of Novak.
“People forgot that this was [Djokovic’s] first Olympics final, he felt that this is it, that he has to seize this opportunity,” he said. “Although considering how crazy he is, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him in Los Angeles in 2028 as well.”
Djokovic’s victory in Paris made him just the fifth person, after Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams, to win the so-called Golden Slam.
Despite only being on the tour for a mere three-and-a-half years, Alcaraz is just two tournament wins away from joining this elite club. All he needs now is an Olympic gold medal and the Australian Open title. If he manages to win the latter before turning 24, he’ll become the youngest man ever to lift all four majors.