Carlos Alcaraz stormed into his third consecutive Grand Slam last by defeating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-2 of their US Open semi-final bout Friday afternoon in New York.
The 22-year-old Spanish star will face both World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy or Canadian twenty fifth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who will meet within the different semi-final Friday night.
Alcaraz is looking his sixth Grand Slam title and his second this 12 months, following his victory over Sinner on the French Open. He’s 45-2 in his previous 47 matches total.
Over the course of two hours and 25 minutes, Alcaraz outperformed the Serbian legend by profitable 42 of his 50 first-service factors (84 %), together with seven aces. He dropped just one service recreation — simply the second time his serve has been damaged all match.
“It is an important feeling. As soon as once more within the last right here on the US Open, it feels wonderful,” Alcaraz mentioned in his on-court interview.
Alcaraz received the 2022 US Open and reached the semi-finals the next 12 months earlier than a stunning second-set exit in 2024.
“At this time, I would say — it wasn’t the most effective stage of the match for me, however I simply stored an excellent stage from the start till the final level,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I served fairly properly, I believe that was actually, actually vital. Making an attempt to play a very bodily match and I believe I did it. On the whole, I performed actually good tennis and I am simply actually completely satisfied to have the ability to play in my second last right here.”
Djokovic, 38, will end and not using a Grand Slam title for the second 12 months in a row. The report 24-time main winner superior to the semifinals in any respect 4 Slams this 12 months, however didn’t attain a last.
He allowed it will proceed to be arduous to be the final man standing in Grand Slam tournaments with stars like Alcaraz and Sinner.
“I nonetheless wish to play the Grand Slam season subsequent 12 months,” Djokovic mentioned. “Let’s examine whether or not that is gonna occur or not … however I do fancy my possibilities extra in best-of-three one-week tournaments or the Masters tournaments the place you may have a number of days between matches. That would serve me higher within the match-ups in opposition to them.”
Djokovic broke Alcaraz’s serve within the second recreation of the second set en path to a 3-0 lead. Alcaraz ripped off the subsequent three video games with ease they usually held serve all the way in which to a second-set tiebreaker, which Alcaraz received due to a 4-1 head begin.
Alcaraz broke Djokovic for a 3-1 lead within the third set, at which level the eventual final result was now not in query. —Area Stage Media/Reuters
