Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz reunited on Arthur Ashe ahead of the US Open, where Djokovic shared a simple yet encouraging message for the young Spaniard after defeating him at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Serbian star secured the gold medal at Alcaraz’s expense but reassured him that his time would come. Reflecting on the moment after participating in a doubles exhibition match with Andre Agassi and John McEnroe at the US Open, Djokovic said, “I told Carlos [Alcaraz] at the net after the final that I was very grateful to him for letting me win the gold. He’s probably going to have like three gold medals before he retires.”
Djokovic’s victory in Paris completed his already illustrious trophy collection, while Alcaraz, making his Olympic debut, has already been tipped by Djokovic for future Olympic success.
Their latest encounter occurred during a star-studded charity event ahead of the 2024 US Open, featuring legends like McEnroe and Agassi alongside modern-day greats, collectively boasting an incredible 43 Grand Slam titles.
Reflecting on the intensity of the charity doubles match, Djokovic noted, “I don’t think I’ve ever played, maybe, I don’t know, a few times in my life, on such a high level, intensely for three hours, only two sets.”
Out of their seven head-to-head matchups, Djokovic holds the upper hand, with significant victories, including the Olympic final and the 2023 French Open semi-finals—both pivotal moments in their rivalry.
Alcaraz, however, has also claimed notable wins over Djokovic, most memorably in the Wimbledon finals in both 2023 and 2024. Despite these triumphs, Alcaraz’s four major titles still pale in comparison to Djokovic’s remarkable tally of twenty-four championships.
