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Travis Kelce Taylor Swift’s relationship is going from strength to strength but an old clip has since resurfaced which some think may jeopardise their union

Since Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s relationship became public in September the NFL and showbiz worlds have been buzzing with excitement. The singer’s loyal fanbase called the “Swifties’ has shown plenty of love to the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and she has attended several games to cheer him on.

But as their union continues to blossom in front of the entire world, some fans believe their partnership may be thrown into jeopardy due to Kelce’s actions in a clip from 2018. The video recently resurfaced on social media, which shows the eight-time All-Pro player pulling down his pants in response to trash talk from rival fans.

The Chiefs were up against the then Oakland Raiders and Kelce was on the sideline ready to enter the game when the opposing fans heckled him. The timing of the clip returning to social media is no coincidence as the Chiefs will host the Las Vegas Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium on Christmas Day.

While referencing sports commentator Joe Buck, Barstool Sports posted the clip with the caption: “Nobody show this DISGUSTING ACT to Joe Buck @BussinWTB.” In response to the video, concerned for the couple’s relationship one fan said: “Taylor Swift is going to break up with him over this,” one fan wrote on social media.

Fans are worried after an old video resurfaced of Travis Kelce pulling his pants down during a game (Image: Getty)

Another added: “That’s what he does for Taylor when he gets home,” while this user posted: “Haha, that’s definitely not something you see every day! But hey, to each their own!” Despite the concerns some fans have after seeing the clip, Swift and Kelce look stronger than ever, and the couple plan to spend their Christmas holidays together.

Swift is set to attend the Chiefs’ games on Christmas Day against the Raiders and when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals on New Year’s Eve. The Chiefs got back to winning ways after defeating the New England Patriots 27-17 on Sunday at Gilette Stadium.

The defending champions will be aiming for a strong end to the regular season with just three games remaining as they hunt for the AFC’s top playoff seed. The Chiefs have hosted the AFC title game in each of the last five seasons and won two Super Bowls in three attempts, including last year’s triumph.

Swift and Kelce went public as a couple in September (Image: Getty)

Kelce will not have his mother in the crowd watching him play over the festive period, as she has chosen to spend it in Philadelphia watching his older daughter Jason play for the Philadelphia Eagles. But during a conversation with People Magazine, Donna Kelce confirmed she will be at Lincoln Financial Field to watch the Super Bowl runners-up host the New York Giants on Dec. 25.

“I will be in Philadelphia for Christmas, spending time with my grandkids as we cheer on their dad,” she said. “I understand that it’s part of the job (holiday games). I embrace the holiday games and enjoy the special days with our football family.”

Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian’s continuing feud has been reignited and could be about to affect the Kansas City Chiefs’ star pairing Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes could have some explaining to do to teammate Travis Kelce after modeling for Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS holiday campaign. It comes in light of Taylor Swift, Kelce’s girlfriend, recently reigniting her feud with “The Kardashians” star over a 2016 phone call with her then-husband Kanye West.

Swift, 33, again addressed the situation in an interview with “TIME” after being named the magazine’s Person of the Year. It centered around a lyric from the song “Famous” from Ye’s seventh studio album, “The Life of Pablo.”

On the track, he says: “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that b****h famous.” It refers to when the rapper interrupted her acceptance speech after being awarded Best Female Video at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

Swift said the lyric was “misogynistic,” but Ye claimed she approved of it. Kardashian involved herself after sharing a video clip on social media of the phone call between her then-husband and Swift speaking about the song.

Swift briefly reconciliated with Ye before the song and subsequently released video by Kardashian (Image: Getty)

The pop superstar was adamant it was manipulated footage, edited to make her look bad. That claim was proven in 2020 when the unedited version came to light, in which Ye did not mention how he would be describing Swift.

Both she and Kardashian addressed the leaked footage, with neither backing down. The latter said: “This will be the last time I speak on this.”

She claimed “nobody cares,” but no three-and-a-half years on, Swift has added another chapter to the saga. The superstar has spoken about how the whole situation affected her.

Mahomes and Kelce are close on and off the field, and so two are their respective partners (Image: Getty)

“You have a fully manufactured frame job, in an illegally recorded phone call, which Kim Kardashian edited and then put out to say to everyone that I was a liar,” Swift said. That took me down psychologically to a place I’ve never been before.

“I moved to a foreign country. I didn’t leave a rental house for a year. I was afraid to get on phone calls. I pushed away most people in my life because I didn’t trust anyone anymore. I went down really, really hard.”

After calling out Kardashian by name again, it remains unclear how Swift feels about the Mahomes family promoting the clothing brand Ye’s ex-wife founded in 2019. Patrick and his wife Brittany posed alongside their young children “Bronze” Lavon and Sterling Skye in the campaign.

Swift has become particularly close with Brittany since dating Kelce. The two have been seen together at several Chiefs games while cheering on the team this season.

Only last weekend, they were beside each other in a suite at Lambeau Field as Kansas City surprisingly lost on the road to the Green Bay Packers. One or both seem likely to be at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday when the Chiefs return back home to play the Buffalo Bills.

The 37-year-old became the oldest player to win the Olympics gold medal in history.

This was also a sort of redemption for him after he had lost the Wimbledon 2024 final to Carlos Alcaraz not very long ago.

Novak Djokovic’s hand shaking (Photo credit: Paris Olympics 2024)

Novak Djokovic was extremely emotional after winning the one prize which has eluded him all his career, the Olympic gold medal. On Sunday, August 4, the Serbian ended his wait for the gold medal when he beat Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s singles final to win the top prize on offer at the Paris Olympics 2024. After the match, an emotional Djokovic got down on his knees and clutched his head just to soak in the victory as applauses were heard all around the court.

A close-up video from the memorable moment also showed his hand shaking as he was on his knees on the clay court after finally attaining the gold medal. Emotional Novak Djokovic Breaks Down, Hugs Daughter Tara in the Crowd After Winning Gold Medal in Men’s Singles Tennis at Paris Olympics 2024 (Watch Video). Viral Video Shows Novak Djokovic’s Hand Shaking After He Wins Gold Medal at Paris Olympics 2024

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Taylor Fritz was left seething during his first-round match at the Cincinnati Open after a “ridiculous” umpire call.

Taylor Fritz and the Cincinnati Open umpire (Image: X/Tennis TV)

The Cincinnati Open was embroiled in controversy after Taylor Fritz, the American tennis pro, had a heated exchange with the umpire.

This incident sparked outrage among fans and fellow players who supported Fritz. He was competing against Brandon Nakashima in the first round of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament. The match was closely contested, with Nakashima winning the first set 6-4 and leading 3-2 on serve in the second.

However, the game took a bizarre turn when one of Nakashima’s shots clearly bounced beyond the baseline. Despite this, Hawkeye’s electronic line judge did not call the ball out, and the game continued. Umpire Gregory Allensworth then shouted “stop, stop!” to the players, halting the game. He contacted the Hawkeye officials via his walkie talkie for clarification.

Meanwhile, an irate Fritz demanded an explanation as to why the point wasn’t stopped when the ball was “far out”. The umpire explained that the game hadn’t been halted in time, as Fritz and Nakashima had played “six or seven shots more”.

Fritz objected, insisting to the umpire “I stopped”, but the official disagreed, stating the game would have stopped if Fritz had indeed paused. Replays showed that Fritz did momentarily pause and glance towards the umpire before continuing the game.

Fritz was left unimpressed with the decision (Image: Tennis TV)

World No 12, visibly frustrated, confronted the umpire saying: “Don’t tell me that I need to stop the point when we have electronic line calling.”

The umpire responded: “I know but that’s how it works, you could have stopped the point and we could have looked at it then.”

Fritz continued his argument stating: “But why didn’t you stop it? You’re in the chair, you saw that ball it was like a foot out.”

Unfortunately for Fritz, an announcement over the loudspeaker stated that “due to a technical error, the point will be replayed” – which was met with boos from the crowd.

Several tennis players rallied behind Fritz’s complaint, including Daniil Medvedev. “Ridiculous decision… ball is out, point is over, point to Fritz. How was this not the outcome?” Medvedev commented on Instagram under a video clip of the point.

Alex Michelsen, another player, echoed Medvedev’s sentiment: “Ball was out why we replaying the point? [two cry-laughing emojis].”

Denis Shapovalov, recently defaulted during an ATP Tour match at the Washington Open, sided with Fritz: “If you would have stopped the point [facepalm, cry-laughing emoji]. I can’t anymore,” he said.

Despite the controversy, Fritz managed to put the incident behind him to win the set and force a decider. However, the 26-year-old ultimately lost 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (4) after a tense tiebreak. Fritz later posted on X: “Imagine telling me I needed to stop the point when we have literal Hawkeye electronic line calling.”

After Hailey Welch, better known as the “Hawk Tuah” girl, became an overnight viral sensation, tennis star Nick Kyrgios has not held back with his criticism.

The internet sensation ‘Hawk Tuah’ girl has hit back at tennis star Nick Kyrgios (Image: Getty)

Hailey Welch, better known as the “Hawk Tuah” girl, has hit back at tennis star Nick Kyrgios as the pair engaged in an unlikely war of words. The internet sensation came in from criticism from the controversial Australian ace as he questioned the legitimacy of her fame following her whirlwind rise.

The social media celebrity became famous around the world overnight after taking part in a vox pop interview on the street in the Broadway district of Nashville, Tennessee earlier this year. Since then, her “hawk tuah” catchphrase has entered the cultural zeitgeist, inspiring remixes and remakes of the original clip on the internet.

The American youngster, who is 23-years-old, has capitalized on her 15 minutes of fame too, using her business savvy to launch a successful career online since as an influencer. She now boasts over one million followers on Instagram, while also making an estimated $70,000 from selling branded merchandise.

However, she has had to also deal with some of the less enticing aspects of notoriety too, fielding some negative comments from naysayers along the way. Among those is tennis star Kyrgios, who blasted the viral superstar, posting on Twitter/X: “No correlation between fame and actually being decent at something anymore.”

Controversial tennis star Nick Kyrgios did not hold back as he discussed the viral sensation’s rise (Image: Getty)

Welch had been in attendance at Jake Paul’s boxing match versus Mike Perry at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on July 20 – as “Problem Child” prevailed in the sporting spectacle. Kyrgios’ clear exasperation with the internet star’s ubiquity did not go down well with his newfound foe, though.

Issuing a barbed response to the tennis star’s blasting, she admitted that she was struggling to understand why the Australian firebrand would call her out in such a brutal manner. Speaking to TMZ in Los Angeles, she admitted: “Let me put it this way: I don’t wake up and hate on anybody else.

“I don’t understand why people do that. They have their own opinion, and they’re entitled to it. I don’t care,” she continued, as she brushed off the sportsman’s comments before adding: “If they wake up and feel that way, then so be it. I’m not concerned about it at all.”

Previously, Welch has spoken about her rise to fame as she discussed the response to the clip that saw her come to the attention of millions around the world. She told Page Six:”The first week, after the first video I was like it’s just one video, whatever. He kept going on and posting more and I was not doing really good the first week with it. Me and my friend Chelsea, we did not take that well the first week.

“I was embarrassed to come out of my house, go to work. After that, I got thinking, I thought as many as he already posted, I’m not fazed by it,” she acknowledged, opening up on her state of mind after the video went viral. “He kept posting them and posting them and I was like whatever.

The internet celebrity added: “I got an Attorney after that. I was like everyone else is making money off it with merchandise and he’s making money off the videos, I was like that’s not fair. I went and I got all my act together and here I am.”

Iп a receпt episode of “The View,” a пotable iпcideпt occυrred wheп Simoпe Biles, the celebrated gymпast, decliпed aп iпvitatioп to appear oп the show.

Whoopi Goldberg, a loпg-time host, expressed her frυstratioп, labeliпg the sitυatioп as “the worst offer” of her career. The teпsioп arose after Biles made a caпdid statemeпt, dismissiпg the iпvitatioп as lackiпg appeal or relevaпce to her cυrreпt eпdeavors.

Biles’ refυsal highlights a broader issυe regardiпg   celebrity appearaпces oп talk shows like “The View.” The gymпast, who has beeп opeп aboυt her meпtal health strυggles aпd is a promiпeпt advocate for self-care, likely felt that the platform did пot aligп with her message or braпd. Her decisioп sparked a discυssioп amoпg the hosts, with Goldberg takiпg it persoпally, possibly feeliпg that the rejectioп reflected poorly oп the show’s repυtatioп.

Goldberg’s reactioп caп be seeп iп the coпtext of her owп career aпd receпt coпtroversies sυrroυпdiпg “The View.” The show has faced criticism aпd flυctυatiпg viewership, with rυmors aboυt its poteпtial caпcellatioп aпd Goldberg’s possible departυre. These factors may have coпtribυted to her heighteпed seпsitivity to perceived slights from high-profile figυres like Biles.

Moreover, Goldberg is cυrreпtly eпgaged iп several other projects, iпclυdiпg the release of her пew memoir “Bits aпd Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, aпd Me,” which explores persoпal stories aпd family memories. This project, aloпgside her work oп “The View,” sυggests a bυsy schedυle that might also affect her emotioпal iпvestmeпt iп the show’s sυccess aпd its iпteractioпs with gυests​.

The iпcideпt reflects a broader treпd of   celebrities exercisiпg greater coпtrol over their pυblic appearaпces, choosiпg platforms that aligп with their persoпal aпd professioпal goals. For Biles, kпowп for her priпcipled staпce oп meпtal health aпd advocacy, appeariпg oп “The View” may пot have offered the sυbstaпtive dialogυe she seeks. Her decisioп to decliпe, therefore, caп be seeп as aп assertioп of her valυes aпd priorities.

This sitυatioп also raises qυestioпs aboυt the role of talk shows iп moderп media. “The View,” kпowп for its mix of political aпd cυltυral commeпtary, has sometimes strυggled to balaпce serioυs discυssioпs with eпtertaiпmeпt. The reactioп to Biles’ decliпe υпderscores the pressυre these shows face to maiпtaiп relevaпce aпd appeal iп a rapidly chaпgiпg media laпdscape.

As for Goldberg, her reactioп may reflect the challeпges faced by loпg-staпdiпg media persoпalities iп adaptiпg to these chaпges. Her frυstratioп sυggests a persoпal stake iп the show’s sυccess aпd perhaps aп aпxiety aboυt its fυtυre. With rυmors of possible chaпges to the show’s liпeυp aпd format, the iпcideпt with Biles coυld be a reflectioп of broader υпcertaiпties withiп the “The View” team.

Iп coпclυsioп, the refυsal of Simoпe Biles to appear oп “The View” aпd the sυbseqυeпt reactioп from Whoopi Goldberg highlight the evolviпg dyпamics of   celebrity media eпgagemeпts. It υпderscores the пeed for shows like “The View” to adapt to the chaпgiпg priorities of gυests aпd aυdieпces. As both Biles aпd Goldberg пavigate their respective careers, this iпcideпt serves as a remiпder of the complexities iпvolved iп media appearaпces aпd the importaпce of aligпmeпt betweeп persoпal valυes aпd pυblic platforms.

The former American legend has built his ideal tennis player, putting together ‘pieces’ of other champions, taking serve, forehand, backhand, speed and mentality

In recent months, many tennis players and former tennis players have had fun building their ideal tennis player, assembling pieces from past and present champions; the latest was Andre Agassi and his choices have caused discussion.

The legendary American was invited to build his ideal tennis player and, in a post published on the social profiles of the US Open, Agassi, winner of 8 Slam titles, outlined his ideal player through 5 main categories: serve, forehand, backhand, speed and mentality.

Agassi cited Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic while he snubbing Rafael Nadal. Andre Agassi© Chris Unger / Stringer Getty Images Spor

For the serve, Andre pointed to John Isner: “Pete Sampras had a great serve, I mean for a normal-sized person excellent. His mechanics, his execution of the shot were perfect. It was beautiful to watch. But if I have to evaluate the serve I would say indisputably John Isner. I have never seen anyone serve what John did,” analyzed Agassi.

On the choice of forehand, the American explained: “There are many ways to judge a forehand, but here I would say Roger Federer. Sampras’ running forehand was superior to Federer’s, he hit a phenomenal ball. But in general on the forehand my choice falls on Roger Federer.”

On backhand, Agassi chose himself: “I would say mine. I’ve always had the feeling on my backhand of knowing exactly where the ball was going when I hit it. I had very few hesitations on this shot that has given me so much in my career.” Andre Agassi© Mike Ehrmann / Staff Getty Images Sport

Regarding the speed of execution (and thought), Agassi said: “Three guys are the fastest right now on the tour. They are Carlos Alcaraz, Alex de Minaur and Tommy Paul. I say Alcaraz for the skills he has shown in managing the point and for the ability he has to turn rallies around.”

Finally, Agassi talked about mentality, explaining: “Without a doubt, without any hesitation, I say Novak Djokovic. Mentally when he’s focused or needs to raise his level, he does it. No one can raise the level in a match when he serves like he does.”

 

Sinner reached the top spot for the first time in June and he has been ranked there ever since.

Jannik Sinner thinks he has a pretty clear idea of how he can keep the world No. 1 position long-term as the 22-year-old Italian believes constantly improving and trying to always be a step ahead of the competition is the key.

After evidently taking his game to another level in late 2023, Sinner continued his rise at the start of the 2024 season and it didn’t take long before he became a Grand Slam champion at the Australian Open. A couple of months after landing his maiden Major, the Italian accomplished his next big goal and dream – he became the top-ranked player in the world for the first time in his career after the French Open.

And currently, Sinner has just over 300 ranking points more than world No. 2 Novak Djokovic and he is also around 800 points clear ahead of third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz.

“If you just want to hold the position, you have to improve. And if you want to get better, you have to improve more than the others. I think it’s a good balance of how much work you do and how much quality you can put in the work,” Sinner said in Cincinnati. Jannik Sinner© Getty Images Sport – Dylan Buell

Sinner admits he doubted if he could be here one day

Before all of this happened for Sinner, he just wasn’t able to make it past the quarterfinal stage at the Grand Slam level as he was struggling to come up big in the matches against the top players on the biggest stage.

But that has been fixed and Sinner is now a top favorite for the title wherever he goes.

“We all have doubts. Sometimes, even before I won a Grand Slam, I had some doubts if I can win a Grand Slam or not. And then you reach the point where you win it. After, in your mind you know that you can do it, but you still have to work a lot for that,” Sinner explained.

Meanwhile, Sinner is back in action at the Cincinnati Masters after missing the Paris Olympics due to tonsilitis. In Cincinnati, Sinner is the top seed and has a first-round bye before facing either Alex Michelsen or Tallon Griekspoor.

Kyrgios and Bublik were in awe of one of Djokovic’s abilities during their matches against the Serb.

© Getty Images Sport – Julian Finney

Nick Kyrgios and Alexander Bublik candidly opened up about the struggles of facing Novak Djokovic as both lamented how it was “crazy” and “insane” to deal with the Serb’s returns and his ability to perfectly read everything.

In 2022, Kyrgios was playing outstanding at Wimbledon and he ended up making his first Grand Slam singles final. As a reward, Kyrgios got to play Djokovic, who had six titles at The Championships at the time.

And Kyrgios came to play since he was dropping massive serves and being competitive in rallies against Djokovic. But even though the Australian won the opening set and kept playing at a very high level for the remainder of the match, he still somehow didn’t win a set in the remainder of the match as the Serb completed a 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 (3) win.

During the match, Kyrgios fired 30 aces and made 73 percent of his first serve but Djokovic still found a way to earn four break points and realize two of them.

“I served 75 percent of first serves and Novak broke me three times,” Kyrgios said on the UTS Tour podcast during his conversation with Alexander Bublik and Patrick Mouratoglou.

After the final, Kyrgios earned massive praise for his performance and some went as far as to state that the Australian would have 100 percent won that day if anyone other than Djokovic was his opponent.

“It’s just I couldn’t serve any better…” Kyrgios remarked. Nick Kyrgios© Getty Images Sport – Julian Finney

Bublik on Djokovic: It’s just insane…

After Kyrgios very honestly admitted how he felt about Djokovic’s returning abilities, world No. 26 Bublik did the same. While Bublik has been around for a long time, he has only once played Djokovic so far – he lost 3-6 4-6 to the Serb in their Davis Cup meeting in 2021. But that one match was enough for the four-time ATP champion to learn everything he needed to know about Djokovic’s returning abilities.

“The problem with Novak, I played him only once, but I was watching a lot of his matches. Every time there is a break point, or something close to, he plays… You just can’t ace him. He knows where you serve. I played him in the Davis Cup, semis I think or quarters we played, so it was one of the deciding matches and then it was like four all, three all, and then every time was 30 all, he is everywhere… I serve down the T’s the best serve slice and then it’s not he’s only there… I haven’t played him in so (many matches) so I wouldn’t say, I wouldn’t come to at all, but I’m just saying that it’s insane. And his practice was insane. Like every time, if there is a point he hits there,” Bublik explained. Nick Kyrgios and Alexander Bublik© Getty Images Sport – Clive Brunskill

While Bublik was breaking down all of this, Kyrgios interrupted a couple of times to make it clear he completely agreed with the points that the Kazakh was making.

Kyrgios on Djokovic returning his serve bombs: It’s ridiculous…

Further reflecting on the final, Kyrgios admitted he didn’t know if there was anything more he could have done that day and seemingly agreed with the claim that he probably would have the 2022 Wimbledon final if Djokovic wasn’t his opponent.

“I mean the final, I don’t think I could have done much more, like… I played pretty solid I played a bad tie-break in the fourth set. I mean, got broken up at four all in the third set at 40 love. It’s ridiculous. So we get broken up 40 love on grass… Something has gone wrong in my head, not tennis-wise, in my head. That was tough. I think if I played like Rafa or something in the final. I would have been fine I think,” Kyrgios said.

Coach Mouratoglou then asked Kyrgios if all of that made him more motivated after the final.

“No, i was crying (laughs),” Kyrgios said, before adding: “Yeah, I got motivated, I don’t know…”

Mouratoglou then clarified he meant to ask it he felt like he could win a Grand Slam.

“Yeah, it was right there, yeah. But like, he is, he is different though… He had what? 30 finals like… And that was my first. So experience, he was never fazed at all. He is so good,” Kyrgios concluded.

Meanwhile, Kyrgios missed the 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon editions due to knee and wrist surgery. In recent weeks, Kyrgios indicated that he is progressing extremely well and that he should be back in action in the very near future.

 

Nikola Pilic shares his thoughts on Djokovic’s post-knee surgery success.

© Getty Images Sport – Julian Finney

1973 French Open finalist Nikola Pilic thinks it is absolute nonsense to think that Novak Djokovic faked a knee injury and adds that it was evident that one of the Serb’s left was “softer than the other.”

After having a couple of unpleasant slips on the clay of Roland Garros during his French Open round-of-16 match against Francisco Cerundolo, Djokovic later learned that he tore his knee meniscus. The moment the 37-year-old Serb received the diagnosis, he pulled out of his French Open quarterfinal and had surgery to repair the damage.

25 days later, Djokovic made his return at Wimbledon and reached the final before Carlos Alcaraz ousted him in three sets. Djokovic then made a quick transition to clay courts and returned to Roland Garros, where he won his first Olympic gold medal after beating Alcaraz in the Paris Olympics final.

But while some were in awe of what Djokovic was able to achieve just weeks after his surgery, some weren’t that impressed and started throwing certain conspiracy theories and questioning if the Serb’s claims were truthful.

However, 84-year-old Pilic – who coached Djokovic in his childhood – has no doubt about what really happened.

“Yes. He definitely had problems at Roland Garros. For example, I could see that one leg was softer than the other. Fortunately, he had all the doctors he trusts around him in Paris. He then had this operation and his knee got much better. He is certainly a little slower than normal, but without this small operation he would not have been able to continue. Novak worked on this leg from morning to night to get fit again. That’s why I’m very happy that he won the gold medal,” Pilic told Tennis Magazin. Nikola Pilic© Getty Images/Hulton archive – Harry Shepherd

Pilic on if he was surprised by Djokovic’s win

At Wimbledon, Djokovic clearly wasn’t playing his absolute best tennis but it was still enough for him to make the final. But when the time came for him to take on Alcaraz, the Serb couldn’t beat the Spaniard without his best level and it resulted in him getting dismantled in three sets.

Considering that Alcaraz was coming off back-to-back Slam titles and Djokovic was struggling throughout the entire year and easily lost the Wimbledon, some thought the Serb would have no chance if another meeting with the Spaniard happened at the Paris Olympics. And it happened – but the outcome wasn’t as many expected – as Djokovic won 7-6 (3) 7-6 (2).

Asked if he was surprised, Pilic said no really.

“No, I was interviewed by some Serbian media before the final and I was one of the few who said that Novak had a good chance of winning gold. Provided he found his rhythm and played in sixth gear. Nobody said that beforehand. Most media said that it would be a mere formality for Alcaraz. Also because Novak played very badly in the Wimbledon final, while Alcaraz played very well and that’s why he won clearly with 6:2, 6:2 and 7:6. I know Novak better than anyone else. I believed that he had a good chance. His attitude was outstanding because he knew it was his last chance,” Pilic explained.

Novak Djokovic© Getty Images Sport – Maja Hitij

Pilic on how he views Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner compared to Djokovic

After Sinner beat Djokovic en route to becoming a Grand Slam champion at this year’s Australian Open and then also replaced the Serb as the top-ranked player in the world, some started claiming that the Italian and Alcaraz were officially the ones to beat now. Addressing that, Pilic acknowledged the quality of the two young superstars but also underlined that Djokovic is a record 24-time Grand Slam champion and that his resume speaks for itself.

“Carlos is a very mature talent, the most mature of his generation. I also have a lot of sympathy for Jannik Sinner, but for me Carlos is simply the greater talent. He is very active and plays incredible tennis. But Novak, the old master, is simply still a different calibre. I don’t want to be subjective here, but he has been named World Sportsman of the Year five times,” Pilic noted.

“That is not my subjective opinion, that was decided by independent committees. That speaks for itself and is something very special. Sinner, Alcaraz and others will certainly take over the new generation in one or two years. Novak will be 39 by then, and not everything will be the same as when he was 29.”

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz© Getty Images Sport – Clive Brunskill

Meanwhile, Djokovic decided to skip the Masters events in Montreal and Cincinnati after his Olympic win. As it stands now, he will directly go to the US Open without any preparation.