Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz Clash for Olympic Tennis Men’s Singles Gold

Sunday’s showdown will be the latest chapter in a captivating old-vs.-young rivalry, encapsulating a recent Wimbledon final clash.

PARIS, France — Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are set to compete for the men’s tennis singles gold medal at the Paris Olympics on Sunday. This match will be another episode in an intriguing rivalry that included a recent face-off at the Wimbledon finals.

Alcaraz triumphed in their last encounter, much like he did at Wimbledon last year. “Quite comfortably,” Djokovic admitted.

After Alcaraz’s semifinal win on Friday, the 21-year-old Spaniard was asked about a potential rematch with the 37-year-old Serbian.

“Hopefully,” Alcaraz chuckled, “the same as Wimbledon.”

Key Points Ahead of Sunday’s Final:

Djokovic and Alcaraz battling for the gold matters significantly. Djokovic, the oldest in an Olympic tennis final, faces Alcaraz, the youngest.

Djokovic, regarded as one of the greatest men’s tennis players, boasts 24 Grand Slam titles and over 400 weeks as world No. 1. Yet, an Olympic gold still eludes him. He has faced heartbreak in three Summer Games semifinals, including against Rafael Nadal in Beijing and Andy Murray in London.

He clinched a bronze in 2008, but he aims for more this time. “I know how much it means for him to win a gold,” said Lorenzo Musetti, whom Djokovic defeated in Paris.

Alcaraz is currently dominating the sport, adding recent Wimbledon success to his French Open triumph. In 2022, he became the youngest ATP No. 1 and now holds four Grand Slam titles.

“Alcaraz has proven the best player in the world at the moment,” acknowledged Djokovic.

Alcaraz was seeded No. 2 at the Olympics, with other players like Tommy Paul agreeing with Djokovic’s assessment of the Spaniard’s excellence.

Djokovic has been wearing a gray sleeve on his right knee due to a torn meniscus and subsequent surgery. Despite the injury, he competed at Wimbledon and now looks strong for the Olympic final. He mentioned feeling more confident and well-prepared for Sunday’s match.

Betting odds favor Alcaraz, with BetMGM Sportsbook listing him at a -250 money line, while Djokovic stands at +195.

The men’s final will be the second match at Court Philippe Chatrier on Sunday, scheduled not before 2 p.m. local time (8 a.m. EDT). Details on broadcasting can be found on NBC’s online schedule.

Both players have won three matches each in their six previous encounters. Their only match at Court Philippe Chatrier saw Djokovic win in 2023 when Alcaraz suffered full-body cramps.