“When Novak Djokovic is playing at this level it's really difficult” – Carlos Alcaraz praises Serb for win over Rafael Nadal at Paris Olympics 2024

Carlos Alcaraz recently praised Novak Djokovic for his winning performance against Rafael Nadal in the second round of the 2024 Paris Olympics singles event. The Serb defeated Nadal 6-1, 6-4 on Monday, July 29, at Roland Garros' Philippe Chatrier to advance to the third round.

He smashed five aces, 21 winners, and converted five break points during the match, also inducing 20 unforced errors from the Spaniard. It was the legendary duo's 60th duel, with their head-to-head now standing at 31-29 in the Serb's favor.

Alcaraz, who is Nadal's doubles partner at the Olympics this year, gave his assessment of the Serb's Monday performance suggesting he played top-class tennis. He told the media:

"When Djokovic is playing at this level it's really, really difficult to play against him. He was really aggressive, made no mistakes, moving very, very well. I saw Rafa playing let's say not his best tennis for sure. But when Djokovic is like this, he was the better one."

The four-time Grand Slam champion made the statement after completing a straight-sets win over Tallon Griekspoor from the Netherlands in his second-round effort at the Games. He broke the Dutch twice to earn a 6-1, 7-6(3) win in an hour and 48 minutes.

Carlos Alcaraz is scheduled to take the court with Rafael Nadal on Tuesday, July 30, in the doubles event. The Spanish duo will face Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof from the Netherlands in the second round after having beaten Argentina's Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez in the first.

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Carlos Alcaraz faces Roman Safiullin in Paris Olympics 3R, Novak Djokovic to battle against Dominik Koepfer

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are on course to win medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics singles event as the two enter the third round.

Djokovic's next task at Roland Garros is to beat Germany's Dominik Koepfer, against whom he has a 1-0 advantage in the head-to-head. Koepfer has reached the third round with hard-fought wins over Canada's Milos Raonic and Italy's Matteo Arnaldi.

Carlos Alcaraz - Getty Images

Alcaraz is set to lock horns in the third round with Roman Safiullin, who is competing in Paris under a neutral flag. He has an unfavorable head-to-head record of 1-0 against Safiullin as the Russian defeated him 6-3, 6-4 in a Round-of-32 meeting at the 2023 Paris Masters.

Thus far at the Olympics, Safiullin has bettered Chile's Alejandro Tabilo 6-4, 6-4 and Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-0, 7-6(1).