Given the choice, Alcaraz would rather “win Olympic gold” than Roland-Garros

Carlos Alcaraz, the world No 2, is playing in Buenos Aires this week

Carlos Alcaraz (Virginie Bouyer/Panoramic)

February 13, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz will be playing tennis again this week, his first on the ATP circuit since losing to Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. The Spaniard has chosen to return to the clay courts of Buenos Aires, where he won the title in 2023, to regain his confidence ahead of the American tour.Clay is a surface that will be important in 2024 as the tennis events of the Paris Olympic Games will be held at Roland-Garros. At a press conference in Buenos Aires, journalists asked Alcaraz whether he would rather win Olympic gold or the Paris Grand Slam. All smiles, the world No 2 played along.

“I’d say the Olympic title. For me, it’s a dream to bring a medal to my country, to Spain, and winning gold is one of the most beautiful things that can happen to you in the world of sport in general. This year, if you gave me the choice, I’d say I’d take Olympic gold… although I’d win both if I could, I’m not going to lie to you either.”

ALCARAZ MOTIVATED BY DJOKOVIC AND SINNER’S SUCCESSES

Everyone expected Novak Djokovic and Alcaraz to duel for the Australian Open title, but in the end it was Jannik Sinner who came out on top in Melbourne. Disappointing against Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals, the world No 2 is keen to get back on track, and the performances of his rivals give him even more motivation to improve.

“I’m a very competitive and ambitious man. I always want to win everything, and that’s what drives me to keep training at my highest level, to keep going to tournaments with a strong desire to win more titles. Seeing Djokovic up there, the players who are winning titles now, it’s something that motivates me to be at the same level as them.

“Talking about the Big Three too, it motivates me to keep getting closer to them. I’m a man who dreams big, I’m very ambitious and I’m aiming for the best level in the world and the best level in history. That’s what motivates me to give 100% every day and go to tournaments to win them.”

Alcaraz will make his debut on Wednesday in Buenos Aires in a tournament he won last year. His opponent will be Peru’s Juan Pablo Varillas or Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli.