Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz favors the Olympic Games at Roland-Garros – Libération

2024-02-13 15:19:40

“Gold is one of the most beautiful things in sport,” praised the world number two before the start of the ATP tournament in Argentina. If he has the choice, the young Spanish prodigy will therefore favor an Olympic title in Paris.

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The practical thing is that the location will be the same. Whether he wins one or the other, Carlos Alcaraz put the pressure on himself at Roland Garros. Second world player in the ATP rankings, the Spanish tennis player explained on Monday February 12, before the opening of his clay court season at the ATP tournament in Argentina, that he would favor the Paris Olympic Games this year at the end of July, at the Paris tournament, which begins at the end of May: “If I have to choose, this year I prefer to win Olympic gold rather than Roland-Garros.”

Anthology finale

“For me it’s a dream to wear a medal for my country and gold is one of the most beautiful things in sport in general. This year, if I had the choice, I would prefer to win Olympic gold. Even if I can win both if I can, I’m not going to lie to you either,” he boasted in the columns of the Argentine daily the nation.

In 2023, injured in the calf and crippled by cramps, Alcaraz lost in the semi-final at Roland Garros against Novak Djokovic. The Serbian had sailed towards the final then his 23rd grand slam title, further marking the history of world tennis. But Alcaraz took his revenge a month later, depriving “Nole” of a new coronation at Wimbledon, at the end of an anthology final.

After his defeat in the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, Alcaraz will defend his crown in Buenos Aires and is not letting his morale dampen: “My current level is very good. […] I just played some good tennis in Australia and the training days I had on clay were very good.”