Carlos Alcaraz shares seven-word Novak Djokovic message after Olympic heartbreak
Carlos Alcaraz has shared what Novak Djokovic told him following their instant classic Olympic final. The Spaniard was defeated 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) in a rematch of his Wimbledon final victory.
There were poignant scenes following the match, with both men in tears on separate times. Djokovic was able to release years of pent-up emotion after eventually winning gold in his fifth Games, adding to his bronze in Beijing 2008.
While it would have been easy to get caught up in his own accomplishment, the Serbian, 37, made sure to offer his 21-year-old opponent flowers for winning silver in his first Olympics, leaving a poignant seven-word message.
In his post-match press conference, Alcaraz stated, “He told me that ‘I will win Olympic gold one day’.” We’re going to work for it. I’m confident my time will arrive.”
He stated that he couldn’t match Djokovic’s drive, as his ultimate ambition for 2024 was to complete the career golden slam. “His tears at the end of the match reflect the desire he had for this moment to come and he deserves it because he has played very well,” Alcaraz said afterwards.
“Today, I had Novak Djokovic in front of me, and he wanted the gold more than I did. At times, he played superior tennis and deserved to win.”
When asked about his own tears, he indicated that they were caused by the frustration of losing two tiebreaks. However, Alcaraz, a four-time major winner, has no regrets about his performance.
He went on to say, “Those tears were because I thought I had not achieved the aim of all Spaniards, but winning an Olympic medal is never easy, which is why I am proud. It was a difficult time to manage since I wanted more, specifically gold, but I am proud. In the end, I tried everything and fought till the final ball.”
Alcaraz also mentioned his nation’s high expectations as a possible factor in his poor performance. He won’t have long to recover until the Cincinnati Open later this week.
