Alcaraz, with six majors to his name, defeated Sinner at both the US Open and the French Open, while the Italian, who is a four-time Grand Slam winner, triumphed over his Spanish counterpart at Wimbledon, having also captured the Australian Open earlier in the year.

Thus, Djokovic sees the event as a platform for growth and discovery. For the spectators, having Novak compete on Greek soil is already historic. In addition, his presence has given Athens a powerful reminder of what tennis can mean to a nation ready to embrace it again.