Paris Olympics Final – Spain [Carlos Alcaraz] vs. Serbia [Novak Djokovic]

Who takes it?

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  • Poll closed .
UnforcedTerror

UnforcedTerror

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King Karl not to be stopped.

Only Djokovic in his 2023 form has what it takes to down Alcaraz but we haven't seen that version since the YEC final of last year.

More pertinent question > Can Djokovic in his current form and condition take even one set off Karl? Because recently it seems there isn't even one thing that Djokovic does better. Karl is better in every aspect of the game including the serve, he has a massive physical advantage, in addition to the mental edge.

I really hope Djoko can fluke a set somehow.

I think Djokovic should play like he has nothing to lose as Karl is the heavy favorite and the silver is already secured which is counted as a "win" for his country. On a personal level, he should also be satisfied with the silver given the circumstances. To make the Wimbledon and Olympics finals on different surfaces only one month after a knee surgery is nothing short of extraordinary.

Vote and discuss.
 
UnforcedTerror said:
King Karl not to be stopped.

Only Djokovic in his 2023 form has what it takes to down Alcaraz but we haven't seen that version since the YEC final of last year.

More pertinent question > Can Djokovic in his current form and condition take even one set off Karl? Because recently it seems there isn't even one thing that Djokovic does better. Karl is better in every aspect of the game including the serve, he has a massive physical advantage, in addition to the mental edge.

I really hope Djoko can fluke a set somehow.

I think Djokovic should play like he has nothing to lose as Karl is the heavy favorite and the silver is already secured which is counted as a "win" for his country. On a personal level, he should also be satisfied with the silver given the circumstances. To make the Wimbledon and Olympics finals on different surfaces only one month after a knee surgery is nothing short of extraordinary.

Vote and discuss.
Click to expand...
It wasn't a surgery the way you're thinking. It was very minor. Djoker can move around like a kangaroo no problem. The knee excuse is only to save face when he loses. Other players do the same. Nothing new in sports.
 
Krish872007 said:
Is this match up closer on clay than on grass?
Click to expand...
Personally feel clay should favour Alcaraz even more than grass currently

Djokovic's serve would be nullified somewhat and he can't beat Alcaraz for pace or by quick strike points too

The slow surface and grinding rallies should also give Alcaraz enough room to shine with his physical edge and will also give him enough time to unleash his hard and heavy ground strokes
 
This is one of the most important matches of Novak's career.

No doubt, he'll remain the greatest even if he loses, but that's not how a champion's mind works. He wants everything. Like Bonaparte or Alxander the Great, Novak is a conqueror, and his will will never be satisfied. He strives to conquer every single domain, every single territory there's to capure in tennis. And the Olympic Gold is no exception. All the pressure is on Novak. His last chance to achieve the only Big Title his cabinet lacks.

It means so much to Novak, it was his priority number one this year, and he'll be extremely tense and nervous. Alcaraz is 16 years younger, comes from winning 2 Slams and destroyed Novak in the W 2024 F, so he'll be the heavy favorite. But Novak is made of something special. He'll not surrender and will leave his soul on the court. If Novak does win, it'll mean a lot for him, and his fans will proudly and deservedly label it as one of the most significant achievements of his career.


90
 
Last edited:
Sport said:
This is one of the most important matches of Novak's career.

No doubt, he'll remain the greatest even if he loses, but that's not how a champion's mind works. He wants everything. Like Bonaparte or Alxander the Great, Novak is a conqueror, and his will will never be satisfied. He strives to conquer every single domain, every single territory there's to capure in tennis. And the Olympic Gold is no exception. All the pressure is on Novak. His last chance to achieve the only Big Title his cabinet lacks.

It means so much to Novak, it was his priority number one this year, and he'll be extremely tense and nervous. Alcaraz is 16 years younger, comes from winning 2 Slams and destroyed Novak in the W 2024 F, so he'll be the heavy favorite. But Novak is made of something special. He'll not surrender and will left his soul on the court. If Novak does win, it'll mean a lot for him, and his fans will proudly and deservedly label it as one of the most significant achievements of his career.


90
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Odds are in

66 Alcaraz
34 Djokovic

I will take it. 34 is great odds. Go for the gold Nole
 
This is a critical match for Novak. One of the most important in his illustrious career.
Expect him to trounce his younger rival in straight sets.
 
Hope both play top level, and we get another epic, like Cincy super level last year, the best M1000 match ever, where both played at goat level.
 
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For all the no pressure on Djokovic talks , I feel there will be immense pressure on Djokovic.

He is going to fight for the only thing missing from his cabinet and he knows this is most definitely his last chance too.

I will not be one bit surprised if we see Djokovic turn up like USO 21 final
 
King_ Zeglan12 said:
I will not be one bit surprised if we see Djokovic turn up like USO 21 final
Click to expand...
True, but we also need to wait how Alcaraz holds his nerves. He also never played for a Gold medal.

Medvedev is one of the most dangerous opponents in such a situation, because he looks like someone who doesn't feel negative pressure. I never saw him visibly nervous. Not that he wouldn't care, but for me he seems like someone who just likes winning, but isn't too frustrated about losing. With that attitude you won't go down to pressure, but rather crash the dream of someone who wants it too much.

Anyway, if Alcaraz will ever come close to Djokovic's overall records, this match may have decisive character. Either Djokovic finally wins the last big title he still needs, or Alcaraz will have the most difficult title already done that early in his career. Then I'm quite certain he will also win all big titles at least once in his career.
 
King_ Zeglan12 said:
Personally feel clay should favour Alcaraz even more than grass currently

Djokovic's serve would be nullified somewhat and he can't beat Alcaraz for pace or by quick strike points too

The slow surface and grinding rallies should also give Alcaraz enough room to shine with his physical edge and will also give him enough time to unleash his hard and heavy ground strokes
Click to expand...

Djokovic serve was already nullified on grass and on grass Carlos's serve gets more bite and so does his ground strokes. On clay it's closer than we think.
 
ChrisRF said:
True, but we also need to wait how Alcaraz holds his nerves. He also never played for a Gold medal.

Medvedev is one of the most dangerous opponents in such a situation, because he looks like someone who doesn't feel negative pressure. I never saw him visibly nervous. Not that he wouldn't care, but for me he seems like someone who just likes winning, but isn't too frustrated about losing. With that attitude you won't go down to pressure, but rather crash the dream of someone who wants it too much.

Anyway, if Alcaraz will ever come close to Djokovic's overall records, this match may have decisive character. Either Djokovic finally wins the last big title he still needs, or Alcaraz will have the most difficult title already done that early in his career. Then I'm quite certain he will also win all big titles at least once in his career.
Click to expand...

Didn't you say you didn't see Carlos winning the Wimbledon final against Djokovic and predicted Djokovic in 3 or 4 sets? Lmao
 
King_ Zeglan12 said:
For all the no pressure on Djokovic talks , I feel there will be immense pressure on Djokovic.

He is going to fight for the only thing missing from his cabinet and he knows this is most definitely his last chance too.

I will not be one bit surprised if we see Djokovic turn up like USO 21 final
Click to expand...
Yep, I think that’s a major factor here.
 
NeutralFan said:
Djokovic serve was already nullified on grass and on grass Carlos's serve gets more bite and so does his ground strokes. On clay it's closer than we think.
Click to expand...
Play lens itself to longer rallies, and that’s where Carlos shines. This match would be closer on hard courts
 
Djokovic is happy he already has at least a silver. He’s on house money here. I think he will play better than Wimbledon final. It might still not be enough but I think it will be closer this time.

The shorter format is better for Djokovic too. Hopefully Alcaraz can start slow to give the old man a chance here.
 
Djokovic_is_the_best#1 said:
Djokovic is happy he already has at least a silver. He’s on house money here. I think he will play better than Wimbledon final. It might still not be enough but I think it will be closer this time.

The shorter format is better for Djokovic too. Hopefully Alcaraz can start slow to give the old man a chance here.
Click to expand...
Djokovic wants the gold too much and it’s his last chance. That could ultimately cost him. Alcaraz is the one playing with house money. He’s just won RG and WB and potentially has 3 more chances of OG gold.
 
Rattie said:
Djokovic wants this too much. That could ultimately cost him.
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He does but it could also drive him on too. He will throw everything at it. I feel the SF was the worst match for him because he never got past that round.

At least he knows he bringing silver home no matter what. He’s the underdog here so that make help him play free and be more aggressive too.
 
I'm picking Alcaraz in 3 in a near-coinflip match. I see Djoker showing some clutch play in the second set, only to run out of gas in the 3rd set against the younger version of himself.

Alcaraz wins 6-4, 6-7, 7-5.
 
Like the Wimbledon final I’m on the fence with 2 scenarios, both of which Alcaraz will come out on top. Nole will turn back the clock and steal a set w Carlos winning in a tight 3. Or it will be a repeat of the Wimby final where Carlos can do no wrong and dominates in 2.
 
Alcaraz is the favourite here - I think (and hope) he wins, but he'll be tested.

It's dangerous to count Djokovic out though, he could win this.

I voted Alcaraz in 3 but it's best of 5 isn't it? So I'll say Alcaraz in 4.
 
ChrisRF said:
True, but we also need to wait how Alcaraz holds his nerves. He also never played for a Gold medal.

Medvedev is one of the most dangerous opponents in such a situation, because he looks like someone who doesn't feel negative pressure. I never saw him visibly nervous. Not that he wouldn't care, but for me he seems like someone who just likes winning, but isn't too frustrated about losing. With that attitude you won't go down to pressure, but rather crash the dream of someone who wants it too much.

Anyway, if Alcaraz will ever come close to Djokovic's overall records, this match may have decisive character. Either Djokovic finally wins the last big title he still needs, or Alcaraz will have the most difficult title already done that early in his career. Then I'm quite certain he will also win all big titles at least once in his career.
Click to expand...
If Alcaraz's finals record is anything to go by, we can sense he relishes the big moments and enjoys them.

Medvedev may look and act like that he has definitely caved into negative pressure from the crowd most noticeably in AO22.

Right now , we can only speculate how Alcaraz's career will unfold but he looks well placed to win them all IMO
 
NeutralFan said:
Djokovic serve was already nullified on grass and on grass Carlos's serve gets more bite and so does his ground strokes. On clay it's closer than we think.
Click to expand...
Maybe but I disagree.
Alcaraz's kick serve is going to be boosted by clay and also I think on grass he had to adapt his ground stroke takebacks , but on clay he can take huge cuts at the ball without worrying about ceding ground.

His groundstrokes are equally effective on both grass and clay.

Coming to Djokovic, he can't blitz through Alcaraz with offence and first strike on clay like how he did in Turin last year. Alcaraz will happily make this a grinding contest and given Alcaraz's superior baseline game and physical edge , he should be a good favourite.
 
Rafa4LifeEver said:
Djokovic has a matchup advantage over Alcaraz on clay, winning 3 of their last 4 clay sets by 1, 1 & 3. He should be the favourite in this match imo.
Click to expand...
Can you explain the matchup advantage that Djokovic has here though ? The breadsticks were against a clearly compromised Alcaraz too
 
King_ Zeglan12 said:
Maybe but I disagree.
Alcaraz's kick serve is going to be boosted by clay and also I think on grass he had to adapt his ground stroke takebacks , but on clay he can take huge cuts at the ball without worrying about ceding ground.

His groundstrokes are equally effective on both grass and clay.

Coming to Djokovic, he can't blitz through Alcaraz with offence and first strike on clay like how he did in Turin last year. Alcaraz will happily make this a grinding contest and given Alcaraz's superior baseline game and physical edge , he should be a good favourite.
Click to expand...
Despite Djokovic hitting harder last few years, Raz hits more powerful than Novak (in fact, in all of their matches, Raz has always made more winners than Novak). That's the reality. Novak can't "blitz through Alcaraz with offense" because Novak can't overpower,Carlitos. Only Sinner can do that. And Raz' gamestyle was never that of a grinder, his shotmaking is too offensive for that. Thing with Alcaraz is that he's so complete, and his defense and velocity are spectacular, but make no mistake, that doesn't make Raz a grinder. He's an offensive baseliner and the final will not be a grinding fest.
 
UnforcedTerror said:
King Karl not to be stopped.

Only Djokovic in his 2023 form has what it takes to down Alcaraz but we haven't seen that version since the YEC final of last year.

More pertinent question > Can Djokovic in his current form and condition take even one set off Karl? Because recently it seems there isn't even one thing that Djokovic does better. Karl is better in every aspect of the game including the serve, he has a massive physical advantage, in addition to the mental edge.

I really hope Djoko can fluke a set somehow.

I think Djokovic should play like he has nothing to lose as Karl is the heavy favorite and the silver is already secured which is counted as a "win" for his country. On a personal level, he should also be satisfied with the silver given the circumstances. To make the Wimbledon and Olympics finals on different surfaces only one month after a knee surgery is nothing short of extraordinary.

Vote and discuss.
Click to expand...
The goat in your avi is about to be run over by the bull
 
King_ Zeglan12 said:
Maybe but I disagree.
Alcaraz's kick serve is going to be boosted by clay and also I think on grass he had to adapt his ground stroke takebacks , but on clay he can take huge cuts at the ball without worrying about ceding ground.

His groundstrokes are equally effective on both grass and clay.

Coming to Djokovic, he can't blitz through Alcaraz with offence and first strike on clay like how he did in Turin last year. Alcaraz will happily make this a grinding contest and given Alcaraz's superior baseline game and physical edge , he should be a good favourite.
Click to expand...

Superior baseline game? His groundstrokes are more penetrating sure and he may have more endurance but he's also more like to spray errors and is also inferior as a point constructor.
 
Unlike grass Nole can't use his shotmaking to get easy points, Clay requires even more physicality, who wins depends on whether Alcaraz brings his A game or his B game (or his C game)
 
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