Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz call for Olympics rule change

Novak Djokovic could be heard saying "sorry" to Matthew Ebden after he routed the Australian, 6-0, 6-1, in the first round of the 2024 Paris Olympics singles draw on Saturday.

The Serb knew that Ebden — a 36-year-old doubles player who hadn't competed in a main draw singles match since June 2022 — did not belong on the court with him. 

To put things in perspective, the Aussie hadn't even cracked the ATP singles ranking since he was ranked No. 970 in May 2023, and had not practiced for a singles match in about two years until he arrived in Paris for the Games.

Ebden was picked as the last-second opponent for Djokovic after Denmark's Holger Rune pulled out with a wrist injury. According to IOC rules, a doubles specialist can fill in for the singles draw in the event of an injury. As such, other eligible singles players not in the draw could not take Rune's place. 

The odd rule left Djokovic perplexed after the game.

"I really don't understand the rules. They're really not logical for me," said the 24-time major winner, via the Associated Press. "I don’t think it's a good image for the sport, to be honest. There were a lot of singles players that have plenty of time, that were alternates, that could have been called to come. This part I don't get."

World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz — who defeated Lebanon's Hady Habib in the first round — also called for the IOC to revisit the rules of the singles draw.

"It's a difficult rule, I guess. Honestly, there are a lot of players who deserve to be here and playing here in the Olympic Games. I think it should be different, because the next singles player (in the rankings) deserves to be here if someone withdraws from the tournament," Alcaraz said.

Aside from Ebden, two other doubles specialists have also been asked to participate in the Paris Olympics singles draw as last-second injury replacements. 

While Djokovic will renew his longtime rivalry with Rafael Nadal in the second round on Tuesday, Alcaraz will face Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor. Djokovic is trying to win his first Olympic medal after he withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Games due to a shoulder injury.