Carlos Alcaraz is back in Paris after an agonizing defeat in the Olympic final in August.
A tantalizing battle with Novak Djokovic saw the Serb finally end his wait for Olympic gold.
The match came mere weeks after their rather one-sided Wimbledon final where Carlos Alcaraz successfully fended off the Serb for the second consecutive year.
Now, while Djokovic’s withdrawal from the Paris Masters means a re-match in the capital is no longer on the cards, Alcaraz has insisted he’s got a point to prove this time.
Facing Nicolas Jarry in his opener, Alcaraz is the hot favorite for the title in an intensely competitive field, despite having previously lost to the Chilean.
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Carlos Alcaraz wants Paris payback
Left in tears after the end of what was likely the best match of the season, Alcaraz will have far more opportunities for a prestigious gold medal – although, as we know, opportunities so great seldom come round.
With Jannik Sinner withdrawing from Paris, Alcaraz becomes the top seed and significantly increases his chances of glory.
Despite glory at Roland Garros in the capital, the Olympic final defeat has clearly left a bigger scar than we may have thought.
He told Eurosport: “It is great to be back here in Paris. I thought honestly a lot about my time in Roland-Garros, my time in the Olympic Games.
“I’m just happy to show my level once again in front of the Parisian crowd, hopefully they’re gonna enjoy the game. It is great and it is an extra motivation coming to this tournament.”
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Carlos Alcaraz has the perfect chance to win the Paris Masters
Alcaraz has a heightened opportunity to capture his first Paris Masters title this year.
With Sinner out, Alcaraz’s path has been made much clearer. Alexander Zverev, another strong contender, has shown inconsistent form on hard courts recently, with a recent defeat in Vienna to Lorenzo Musetti.
Additionally, Tomas Machac, the last player to defeat Alcaraz on the ATP tour, is also out with injury, removing a recent obstacle.
Alcaraz’s powerful, aggressive style is well-suited to the indoor hard courts in Paris, where he can utilize his baseline dominance and athleticism.
With fewer major threats in his way, Alcaraz has a prime chance to add the Paris Masters to his growing list of achievements.
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