Novak Djokovic is one step away from winning his 23rd Grand Slam title. Carlos Alcaraz, not Novak Djokovic, conjured up the “How did he do that?!” shot in the French Open semifinals that went viral in minutes and will be talked about for years.
Alcaraz, 20, not Djokovic, 36, had youth on his side, of course, marking the widest gap between Grand Slam semifinalists since 1991. Alcaraz, not Djokovic, complained to his coach in the early going on an 85-degree afternoon in Court Philippe Chatrier that the points weren’t long enough to wear down his opponent.
And yet, it was Alcaraz, not Djokovic, who succumbed to the heat, intensity, and nerves of the occasion. It was Alcaraz, not Djokovic, whose body broke down, and it was the No. 3 seed Djokovic, not No. 1 Alcaraz, who will play on in Paris with a chance to add to his trophy collection.
Djokovic used every bit of his experience and fitness to beat a cramping Alcaraz 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, reaching his 34th major final and moving closer to a 23rd Grand Slam championship, which would break a tie with rival Rafael Nadal for the men’s record.
“I can understand the emotions and circumstances that affect you mentally and emotionally. … Maybe for the first time in his career, he was expected to win,” Djokovic said. “It’s a part of the learning curve.”
“I’ve never felt the tension that I did in that match,” said Alcaraz, who attributed the stress he felt to the high stakes and the formidable opponent across the net, which caused cramps in “every part of my body.”
“He has been in that situation multiple times,” Alcaraz said. “More than me.”
Djokovic vs Casper Ruud
On Sunday, Djokovic will meet No. 4 Casper Ruud, who eliminated No. 22 Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4, 6-0.
Ruud will be playing in his third final in the past five majors, including the one in Paris a year ago when he lost to Nadal. However, he is still seeking his first major trophy.
“I tried to play without too many feelings,” Ruud said, “without too much pressure.”
Nadal was absent from his favorite tournament this year because of a hip injury; he had arthroscopic surgery last week.
With Nadal out, the focus shifted to two men: Djokovic, who has won 10 of the past 19 majors, and Alcaraz, who won the U.S. Open in September. Djokovic is one of the dominant figures in the sport’s history, while Alcaraz is considered the future.
They put on a show for two exhilarating, exhausting sets, with fans breaking into chants of both men’s nicknames: “No-le!” and “Car-li-tos!”
“We went toe-to-toe,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic showcased his stretching and sliding abilities, hitting groundstrokes that pushed Alcaraz all over the court. Alcaraz, on the other hand, chased down almost everything with his incredible speed and instincts.
“I told him that he’s got plenty of time and that I’m sure he’s going to win Roland Garros multiple times in the future. I have no doubt about it,” Djokovic said of their conversation after the match. He’s an amazing player. He possesses so many qualities. So dynamic. So much power in his shots. A very complete player.”