Novak Djokovic or Carlos Alcaraz? – Boris Becker picks ‘clear favourite’ to win Olympic gold

Ewan West
Boris Becker has named the Olympic favourite between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz
Boris Becker has named the Olympic favourite between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz

Tennis legend Boris Becker has identified Novak Djokovic as the “clear favourite” to win the gold medal in men’s singles at the Paris Olympics over Carlos Alcaraz. 

The former world No 1 thinks Djokovic “must feel good about his chances” after his victory over Rafael Nadal and described the great Serbian as “exceptional” as he hailed his fitness and dedication.

Djokovic is aiming to win his first Olympic gold medal — the only significant prize missing from his trophy collection — at the 2024 Paris Games.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion, who is competing at his fifth Olympics, crushed his great rival Nadal 6-1, 6-4 in the second round at Stade Roland Garros on Monday.

The 37-year-old’s best result at the Olympics came on his debut at the 2008 Games in Beijing, where he defeated James Blake in the bronze medal match to claim his only medal to date.

Djokovic is the top seed in Paris and could meet four-time major winner and No 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz in the gold medal match.

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Alcaraz, who is making his Olympic debut, is the form player in men’s tennis having triumphed at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the past two months.

The 21-year-old Spaniard dismantled Djokovic in straight sets in the Wimbledon Championship match earlier this month to defend his crown at the All England Club.

Speaking to Eurosport, Becker backed Djokovic, who he coached to six major titles between 2014 and 2016, to end his wait for an Olympic gold in Paris.

“Before the tournament started, I put Novak Djokovic as the favourite,” said the six-time Grand Slam winner.

“Now Jannik Sinner has defaulted, but Carlos Alcaraz is still very much in the draw. I think Novak has a good chance to at least medal. I would say Djokovic is the clear favourite.

“He’s won every other title. That was a big win for him [against Nadal], so he must feel good about his chances. But then you still have Alcaraz.

“Novak is exceptional. He’s incredibly fit at 37, and he takes great care of himself. His diet and lifestyle are entirely focused on tennis, which is why he’s still in such good form. But he is 37, so we have to keep that in mind.”

Djokovic will face world No 70 Dominik Koepfer in the third round in Paris on Wednesday, while Alcaraz will take on 66th-ranked Roman Safiullin.

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