Vamos or Idemo? Carlos Alcaraz is all set to take on Novak Djokovic in an exciting gold medal match of the singles event at the Paris Olympics. The 21-year-old tennis star has been a true force to reckon with this season, while the Serb is still looking to taste a title triumph in 2024. They have taken two different routes to Paris, but now they have a similar dream! Alcaraz is leaving no stone unturned. His incredible run on the Parisian clay has forced Juan Carlos Ferrero to cut short his vacation to help the Spaniard fulfill his Olympic dream. However, Nole fans aren’t too pleased with his coach’s return and they have come up with angry reactions on social media!

The top two seeds are eyeing to light up their campaign at the ‘City of Lights‘ with the yellow metal on Sunday! For Djokovic, this is his fifth attempt and his best record was winning the bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, this is the first appearance at the Olympics for Carlitos. The young gun from Murcia is currently on a 12-match winning streak, and the inclusion of the 2000 Sydney Olympics quarterfinalist will surely boost his confidence. Perhaps, this is why Nole fans aren’t too pleased with his return.

Previously, both the players gave their reaction before heading to the gold-medal match. Djokovic said, “This dream is long-lived and fought for. I wanted to compete in the finals of the Olympic games for such a long time.” According to the Serb, representing his nation at a global event like the Olympics is a “huge privilege and honor” and this is something he’s going to cherish for the rest of his life. It’s perhaps Djokovic’s last chance of winning a gold medal for his nation at the Games. He has faced heartbreaks four times. Now it’ll be interesting to see if he can stand up tall in his fifth attempt. His fans are now hoping he gets what he wanted so desperately over the years.

Alcaraz also expressed his excitement about this match: “It means a lot to me being in a final at the Olympic Games and giving myself the chance to fight for a gold medal for my country.“ Ferrero won the French Open title in 2003, and Alcaraz won it this year. Spanish fans will be hoping this French Open-winning duo becomes a hit on Super Sunday. What do the Serbian fans, especially the Nole army, think about this late addition to Team Carlitos?

Djokovic’s fans aren’t too pleased with the return of Alcaraz’s coach right ahead of the mega-final

Under Ferrero’s coaching, Alcaraz has become one of the brightest stars in the tennis world. He has won a total of 15 ATP Tour-level titles under his coaching. Ferrero has also been working to improve Alcaraz’s mental aspect of the game. Alcaraz’s red-hot form in the 2024 season is a prime example of their hard work and dedication towards the sport. However, recently the 44-year-old took some time off to be with his family, but then recently he was yet again spotted assisting Alcaraz in his training. Perhaps he now wants to witness his dreams through the lenses of his student! However, his sudden return has made Djokovic fans say, “Sadly #Alcaraz can’t win with sidecourt coaching. Isa fact.“

Alcaraz was guided by the national coach David Ferrer and Samuel Lopez so far in this tournament. However, no one knows his game better than Ferrero! In a recent interview, Carlitos spoke about his coach stating, “He is tough. He is a very serious person when he has to be when it comes to work and discipline, he is very hard on you.” Alcaraz further went on to add, “But I think that is why I am here today, that is why I have grown very quickly because if he were not so strict I might have gone crazy.” Seeing him heap praise on his coach, perhaps the worried Nole fans feel, “He really seems helpless without someone coaching him constantly.“

Alcaraz has won four Grand Slam titles so far in his career. While Djokovic is the oldest man to ever reach the final, Carlitos has now also become the youngest man to reach an Olympic final in the singles event since 1904. Alcaraz’s incredible transition from a rising star to a superstar in the tennis world has made some fans wonder, “Alcaraz should be able to think for himself at this point.“

His fiery performance this season has even forced Djokovic to admit, “I don’t consider myself the favorite because Alcaraz has proven himself the best player in the world at the moment.” Currently, their H2H is leveled at 3-3 and this is a huge for Djokovic to join an elusive list of players with Career Golden Slam. This is what might have made his fans a bit nervous before the epic battle. Some of them wrote, “Of course! He(Alcaraz) needs coaching for every point for the finals.” 

Djokovic has been struggling a lot with his right knee over the last few weeks. Even in this event, he looked concerned quite a few times with his knee. He was forced to call for medical attention twice during QF against Stefanos Tsitsipas. This is what led the fans to conclude, “Needs his hand holder vs geriatric one knee djok. Sad!”

There’s a lot at stake for both the players as well as their nations in this blockbuster gold medal match. Will it be a repetition of the Wimbledon Finals?