The big guns of men’s tennis are preparing to battle it out for the only title that will bring them no financial reward – but Olympic gold always means so much more.

The 2024 Paris Olympics are about to get underway, with Roland Garros set to look very different from the stage we are used to when it hosts the French Open each year.

With new signage around the court and the Olympic rings confirming this will be a very special few days in Paris, the tennis world will hold its breath as the race for a gold medal hots up.

Now Alcaraz will head into the Olympics as the red-hot favourite to take the gold medal, with his recent form confirming he is the man to beat.

Alcaraz beat top seed Jannik Sinner in the French Open semi-finals and then found a way past reigning Olympic champion Alexander Zverev in the final.

He then bullied Novak Djokovic into a comprehensive defeat in the Wimbledon final, confirming his status as the form player in the men’s game.

Verdict: If Alcaraz is not jaded after his heroics over the last few weeks, he should win the gold medal.

NOVAK’S FINAL MISSION 

Novak Djokovic has made no secret of his desire to win an Olympic gold medal in Paris, but he doesn’t appear to be in the form to turn his dream into a reality.

Djokovic will return to the court where he sustained a knee injury last month, which forced him pull out of the French Open prior to his quarter-final match.

Surgery on that knee followed and while he fought back impressively to reach the Wimbledon final, he was clearly a long ay short of his best as Alcaraz condemned him to a crushing defeat in the final.

His form of 2024 does not suggest Djokovic’s Olympic dream will be realised in his final Games, but this champion can never be written off.

Verdict: Djokovic admits he is not playing at the same level as Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner and he needs huge upturn to challenge for the gold medal.

SINNER’S CHALLENGE

World No 1 Jannik Sinner has already secured glory while playing for Italy, with his Davis Cup heroics in Malaga last November including a win against Djokovic in the semi-final.

He should have recovered from the illness that hampered him in his Wimbledon quarter-final against Daniil Medvedev, but there have been a few cracks appearing in his armour in recent weeks.

Sinner’s defeat against Alcaraz at the French Open confirmed he may be a step behind the Spaniard right now and he has not always enjoyed his best form on clay courts.

Verdict: A medal for Sinner, but not the gold.

THE DEFENDING CHAMPION

Alexander Zverev should be a real contender in Paris.

The German claimed a gold medal in the 2020 Games and will fancy his chances of a repeat on a Paris court where he has played some of best tennis.

In best-of-three-set matches, Zverev can beat anyone in the world if his monster serve if firing and it will be fascinating to see where he is positioned in the draw now that he is in the top four of the ATP rankings.

Verdict: The biggest challenger to Alcaraz.

WHO TO LOOK OUT FOR

France’s Arthur Fils is a player to watch, after his impressive run of results in the ATP 500 event in Hamburg.

Then there is USA’s Taylor Fritz, who will fancy his chances of challenging for a medal after a fine run of form, with his performances on clay courts this year adding to his confidence.

There will also be a lot of eyes on Spain’s Rafael Nadal, after he showed an encouraging return of form in a tournament in Bastad, Sweden over the last few days.

A medal in singles may be too much to ask for Nadal, but he should form a potent partnership with Alcaraz in the doubles event.

Casper Ruud has to be a contender as he has an impressive record on the French Open clay, but his ability to get over the winning line when it matters most remains a concern.