What must Novak Djokovic feel when he observes Carlos Alcaraz—a relentless yet cheerful competitor who denied him a 25th Grand Slam victory at last year’s Wimbledon final? By 22, Alcaraz has already surpassed Djokovic’s early career achievements and enjoys an admiration the Serb has rarely experienced. Alongside Jannik Sinner, the young Spaniard has firmly shifted the spotlight away from Djokovic as the sport’s dominant figure.
Djokovic could be forgiven for resenting, or at least envying, his semi-final opponent—a living reminder of both the limited time he has left in tennis and the elusive milestones he has yet to conquer. Yet recent comments suggest he may be coming to terms with his career’s closing chapters. Before this tournament, he admitted to prioritizing family over relentless competition. His commitment to the sport beyond the majors has visibly diminished this year. If he secures undisputed greatness with a title here, it might mark his final US Open.
To triumph today, Djokovic will need an almost flawless performance and must overcome recent struggles with physical endurance in late-stage Slam matches. While he defeated Alcaraz in last year’s Olympic final—a best-of-three contest—and their Australian Open quarterfinal in January, the Spaniard was far from his current form. In New York, Alcaraz has displayed sharper focus alongside his signature shotmaking, advancing to the semifinals without dropping a set for the first time.
Alcaraz appears fully prepared for what could be a third straight major final against Sinner (details on Sinner’s semifinal against Felix Auger-Aliassime will follow). The challenge for Djokovic now is to defy not just the sport’s emerging rivalry but also age, expectations, and logic.
The match begins at 3pm local time in New York (8pm BST).
Previously: Highlights from their 2024 Olympic final clash and the gripping five-set Wimbledon showdown in 2023.
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