Alcaraz Says He Would Pick Paris Olympics Gold Over French Open Crown 

Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz offers a press conference prior to his debut at the IEB+ Argentina Open tennis tournament, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 12 February 2024. (EPA)
Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz offers a press conference prior to his debut at the IEB+ Argentina Open tennis tournament, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 12 February 2024. (EPA)
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Alcaraz Says He Would Pick Paris Olympics Gold Over French Open Crown 

Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz offers a press conference prior to his debut at the IEB+ Argentina Open tennis tournament, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 12 February 2024. (EPA)
Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz offers a press conference prior to his debut at the IEB+ Argentina Open tennis tournament, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 12 February 2024. (EPA)

Carlos Alcaraz will have the chance to win the Olympic tennis title at Roland Garros this year as well as the French Open crown and while he will be gunning for both the Spaniard said if forced to choose, he would pick the Paris Games gold.

The Olympic tennis tournament will take place in July, a month after the year's second Grand Slam on the same claycourts in the French capital.

"For me, it's a dream to bring a medal to my country and winning gold is one of the greatest things that can happen to you in the world of sport," Alcaraz told reporters in Buenos Aires, where he will defend his title this week.

"This year, if you gave me a choice, I'd say that I will keep the Olympic gold, although I would like to win both. I'm not going to lie."

The 20-year-old won the US Open in 2022 and Wimbledon last year but failed to add to his Grand Slam collection last month after going out in the Australian Open quarter-finals to Alexander Zverev, who won Olympic gold in Tokyo.

While German Zverev leads their career meetings 5-3, Alcaraz said world number one Novak Djokovic and Melbourne Park champion Jannik Sinner were top of the tree.

"I think Djokovic and Sinner are the rivals to beat, there is no doubt, both for me and for everyone," world number two Alcaraz added.

"Zverev also has the winning head-to-head against me, he's a rival I have very much in my mind, but I do think that Djokovic and Sinner are at the top right now."



Man Utd Boss Ten Hag Says Brentford Win No More Important than Any Other

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Brentford - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - October 19, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag celebrates with assistant manager Rene Hake after Rasmus Hojlund scored their second goal REUTERS/Molly Darlington
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Brentford - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - October 19, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag celebrates with assistant manager Rene Hake after Rasmus Hojlund scored their second goal REUTERS/Molly Darlington
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Man Utd Boss Ten Hag Says Brentford Win No More Important than Any Other

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Brentford - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - October 19, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag celebrates with assistant manager Rene Hake after Rasmus Hojlund scored their second goal REUTERS/Molly Darlington
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Brentford - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - October 19, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag celebrates with assistant manager Rene Hake after Rasmus Hojlund scored their second goal REUTERS/Molly Darlington

While Manchester United's 2-1 victory over Brentford was their first win in more than a month, and came amid a cloud of speculation around Erik ten Hag's job, the manager said it had no more significance than any other result.

Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund scored as United came back after conceding to climb up to 11th in the Premier League standings.

The victory at Old Trafford came a day after Ten Hag said rumblings about his job were media "fairytales and lies".

Asked if it could be a turning point in the season, Ten Hag said: "No, it is just a win. The pressure is always there. We have to win every game, Reuters reported.

"Every game we win is important. This team, you see the togetherness, a fighting spirit. Today we had some determination to score goals, and that's what we need. Today we scored two brilliant goals and we are very pleased with it."

United kicked off the game level with Crystal Palace for the league's fewest goals scored this season (five) which Ten Hag blamed on his team's horrible start to the season.

"This team has the capacity to score very good goals," the Dutchman said. "Today the two goals we scored were high quality and when you score and win you add confidence.

"At the start of the season we had some good performances but didn't score enough, then everyone is negative.

"This result can help us, but it is only one win and we must build on it."

Ten Hag had high praise for Marcus Rashford, who has been the target of criticism from fans but had a superb game including a pinpoint cross that found Garnacho at the back post for United's first goal.

"Really enjoyed how he played, you see what he's capable of, a lot," Ten Hag said. "We want this every game, really intense and then a brilliant cross. Starts with fighting spirit. When we all bring this we have a team that can play for trophies."