“He is like the golden standard,” Tommy Paul is full of praise for Carlos Alcaraz after losing to him in 2024 Paris Olympics Quarterfinal
Tommy Paul thinks Carlos Alcaraz is the best player on the tour right now.
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Carlos Alcaraz and Tommy Paul (Images via Imago)
American tennis star Tommy Paul is highly impressed with the current version of Carlos Alcaraz. On Thursday (August 1), the 26-year-old lost to the Spaniard in the 2024 Paris Olympics quarterfinal and then heaped praise on Alcaraz. Paul reckoned that the 20-year-old is “like the golden standard” because of the way he has been playing lately.
The World No. 3 won two Grand Slam titles back-to-back. Alcaraz first clinched his maiden French Open title at the 2024 Roland Garros and then went on to successfully defend his crown at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. Now, Alcaraz is in the semifinal of the Paris Olympics and is eyeing the gold medal.
It's no secret that right now, Alcaraz is kind of like the golden standard. You use him to go to the practice court and see what you can change the next time you play him because everyone wants to play at his level right now.Tommy Paul said post match
The Spaniard defeated Paul in straight sets of 6-3, 7-6(7) in the quarterfinal. Despite trailing 2-5 in the second set, Alcaraz won it in the tiebreaker and eventually clinched the match. His gameplay was such that not just the fans but also his opponent was mightly impressed.
Tommy Paul claims Carlos Alcaraz is the ‘player to beat’
After getting thrashed by Carlos Alcaraz in the Paris Olympics quarterfinal, Tommy Paul claimed that his opponent was playing at a different level. Adding to his golden standard claim, Paul said that everyone on the tour is trying to play at Alcaraz’s level. Paul believes that if anyone wants to be the best in the world currently, they will have to beat Alcaraz.
He's won the last two slams, he's young, he's full of energy. So if you want to be the best in the world, you've got to beat him.Tommy Paul added
Notably, Alcaraz has lost only six matches out of the 43 played in the 2024 season. He has won three titles including the two Grand Slam titles and is cruising toward the Olympic gold medal on his debut at the Games. Although he, alongside Rafael Nadal lost in doubles, the four-time Grand Slam champion looks set to reach the final at the least in Paris.
Meanwhile, for Paul, his singles campaign came to an end with this defeat to Alcaraz. Nevertheless, the medal chances are still alive as the American, with Taylor Fritz, has reached the semifinal in the doubles event.
In case you missed it:
- Paris Olympics 2024: Carlos Alcaraz vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime Preview, Prediction, and Live Stream Details
- Novak Djokovic gives worrying update on knee injury before Paris Olympics Semifinals against Lorenzo Musetti
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Ritesh Pathak
(2150 Articles Published)