Carlos Alcaraz Convinced Novak Djokovic Is ‘Capable’ of Playing 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Despite Slump in Form
Carlos Alcaraz is in Rome, chasing his third title of the season following his victories in Monte Carlo and Barcelona.
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Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/We Are Tennis, Carlos Alcaraz Daily)
Novak Djokovic is currently dealing with a slump in form. Forget about trophies, he is struggling to win even his opening-round matches this season.
This season, twice he registered defeats in three consecutive matches before and after the Miami Open. On the clay swing, he has not yet clinched a set in the tournaments he played so far. After his exit at the Monte Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open, Djokovic withdrew from the Italian Open, the last European Masters 1000 of the season on the red dirt.
At the Italian Masters, Carlos Alcaraz has reached his fourth final of the season and his third on clay after Monte Carlo and Barcelona. He beat Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets to set up a blockbuster showdown with World No.1 Jannik Sinner. After his semifinal, Alcaraz lauded Djokovic’s longevity. He told reporters:
Well, physically, he looks like he’s 25. It’s crazy how he maintains his good level before matches. The level is something else. He may have difficulties, or he has had difficulties in terms of level. But I think he’s really in great physical shape. It depends on him. I’m pretty sure that if his goal is to participate in the Olympics again, I think he’s definitely capable of it. Of course, I think he takes great care of his body, everything, just to be in best shape.
Last year, after beating Alcaraz in the Paris Olympics final in August, the 37-year-old time and again said his goal was to play the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. But since that victory, Djokovic reached only two finals, losing both (to Sinner in Shanghai last year and to Jakub Mensik in Miami this year).
The 24-time Grand Slam champion will next be participating at the Geneva Open before starting his bid for his 25th Major title at the French Open. Djokovic had played in the ATP 250 tournament last year but was defeated in the semifinals by Tomas Machac.
Carlos Alcaraz is chasing his first Italian Open title
Alcaraz will be meeting Sinner in the final of a Masters 1000 or above category for the first time. Thrice they met last year, and the results ended in Alcaraz’s favor, including in the French Open semifinal.
It was Alcaraz’s first victory over Sinner in their second clash on clay. The 23-year-old emerged victorious when he met Alcaraz in the Umag Open final- Sinner’s first and only clay-court title so far.
Alcaraz, on the other hand, is chasing his 10th clay-court title. The Italian Open is Sinner’s first tournament since his three-month doping ban and it’s also his second event this season after the Australian Open, which he won by beating Alexander Zverev. Both Sinner and Alcaraz are chasing their first Italian Open title and both had skipped the tournament last year due to injury issues.
Sinner is on a 26-match winning streak as he is yet to face a defeat since losing to Alcaraz in the China Open final in October last year. Both Sinner and Alcaraz are playing their 25th ATP final. Sinner is 19-5 in championship matches, while Alcaraz holds a 18-6 win-loss record.
In Masters 1000 finals, Alcaraz is 6-1, while Sinner is 4-2. The three-time Grand Slam champion is bidding to become the first man born in the 2000s to take home 20 singles titles. In Rome, they will be playing their third final, following Umag in 2022 and Beijing in 2024.
Alcaraz is bidding to become the first man to beat Sinner twice since he became No.1. The four-time Grand Slam champion holds a 6-4 lead in the head-to-head record.
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