Alcaraz, Djokovic set up U.S. Open semifinal showdown

Another Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic showdown is set for the U.S. Open semifinals on Friday afternoon. Alcaraz and Djokovic clinched another chapter in their rivalry with respective quarterfinal victories on Tuesday.

It was another routine day at the office for Alcaraz, who disposed of Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. The 2022 champion has not dropped a single set this fortnight and has only been pushed to one tiebreaker.

Djokovic predictably had a much tougher time during the night session. The 38-year-old Serb lost a set for the third time during this tournament but battled to a 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Taylor Fritz. Djokovic saved 11 of 13 break points and came up with a crucial break of his own in the 10th game of the fourth set to get across the finish line. Fritz double-faulted on his opponent’s third match point.

Alcaraz and Djokovic will be squaring off for the ninth time in their careers, with Djokovic leading the head-to-head series 5-3. The 22-year-old has defeated Djokovic twice in Wimbledon finals, but the 24-time major winner has since won two in a row. He beat Alcaraz in the 2024 Paris Olympics gold-medal match and in this season’s Australian Open quarterfinals.

“We all know Novak’s game,” Alcaraz commented. “It doesn’t matter that he has been out of the tour since Wimbledon. (He is) playing great matches here. I know he’s hungry. I know his ambition for more. I (have) played a lot of times against him. I really want to revenge–that’s obvious.”