Novak Djokovic’s quest for a record 23rd Grand Slam men’s singles title continued as the Serbian defeated world number one Carlos Alcaraz to storm into his seventh French Open final on Friday.
The 36-year-old Djokovic, who is a two-time Roland Garros winner, equalled the head-to-head record against Alcaraz 1-1 with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 win in three hours and 23 minutes. The Serb will face either Alexander Zverev or last year’s runner-up Casper Ruud in the final on June 11. Djokovic also has the opportunity to leapfrog Alcaraz and reclaim No.1 spot if he wins the French Open 2023 final.
The highly-anticipated semi-final match between Alcaraz and Djokovic lived up to its hype. Throughout the match, both players displayed their skills, with Alcaraz impressing the crowd with his remarkable shots while Djokovic responding with his smooth service hold. The match hung in balance until, in the third set, Alcaraz seemed to suffer a calf issue after an awkward landing. The 20-year-old needed an assessment and, as a result, he had to forfeit the game and eventually fell behind with a break.
The match kicked off with an exciting rally that Alcaraz won with a powerful forehand shot. Djokovic responded with his strong serves, breaking Alcaraz’s serve and gaining an advantage. As the game progressed, Djokovic continued to dominate while Alcaraz fought back with determination. Both players engaged in lengthy rallies and found themselves in multiple deuce situations. After a grueling 59 minutes, Djokovic’s experience and well-executed shots allowed him to hold serve and clinch the first set at 6-3.
Alcaraz started the second set on a strong note, capitalising on Djokovic’s mistakes and establishing a significant lead. Despite Djokovic’s efforts, he couldn’t recover, and Alcaraz held his serve flawlessly, not dropping a single point. In a subsequent game, Alcaraz’s serve initiated an intense rally that ended with Djokovic making an error.
Despite missed opportunities from Djokovic, Alcaraz displayed resilience and held his serve. Djokovic faced a crucial moment while serving to level the score but committed a backhand error, giving Alcaraz an early advantage. Alcaraz capitalised on the opportunity, breaking Djokovic’s serve and gaining an important edge in the set.
With Alcaraz serving for the set, Djokovic mounted a comeback, taking advantage of Alcaraz’s errors to gain a lead. However, Alcaraz’s powerful serves and aces helped him level the score. Djokovic had an opportunity to break Alcaraz’s serve but couldn’t convert, resulting in a deuce. In a tense exchange, Djokovic managed to break back with a winning shot.
Djokovic faced a determined Alcaraz as he fought to stay in the second set. Alcaraz showcased his skills with two impressive forehand winners, establishing a significant lead. He continued to dominate, securing a 40-0 advantage with a drop shot winner. Despite Djokovic’s resistance, Alcaraz’s strong performance proved too much as he claimed three set points. Djokovic’s forehand error sealed the second set in Alcaraz’s favor, with a score of 7-5.
