Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz maintain a strong relationship despite their intense rivalry on the court.
This was evident from Djokovic’s heartfelt message about Alcaraz following their match at the Olympics. Despite a 16-year age gap, the two have delivered memorable matches over the past two years.
Their first encounter was at the Madrid Open in May 2022, where Alcaraz emerged victorious in a thrilling match, 6-7(5), 7-5, 7-6(5). A year later, they clashed in the French Open semifinal. After two high-quality sets, Alcaraz began cramping in the third set, which hampered his performance. Djokovic then comfortably won the final two sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.
Their final at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships was one of the most memorable, with Alcaraz winning 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 after an intense four hours and 42 minutes. They also had an incredible final at the 2023 Cincinnati Open, where Djokovic triumphed 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 in the scorching Ohio heat. Alcaraz’s victory at Wimbledon was a rare instance of a one-sided match between them.
Given their history, expectations were high for their Olympic gold medal showdown. Alcaraz, who had convincingly defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinal, was favored by many. However, Djokovic, defying the odds once again, won two thrilling sets, 7-6, 7-6, to secure his dream of an Olympic gold and complete the Golden Career Grand Slam.
Alcaraz was visibly emotional after the match, tearing up during an interview with Alex Corretja. Once composed, he spoke highly of Djokovic. Rafael Nadal also congratulated Djokovic on social media for achieving the Golden Career Grand Slam, showing respect despite their lack of personal friendship.
Djokovic remained gracious in victory, congratulating Alcaraz and his team in a post on X, predicting that Alcaraz would eventually secure an Olympic gold.
