The eye test suggests that Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic should be the French Open final, but the current ATP rankings allowed the draw ceremony to have other ideas. Alcaraz and Djokovic landed in the same half of the bracket and almost two weeks later their highly anticipated semifinal showdown has become a reality.
Since Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal from the tournament, Alcaraz and Djokovic have been far and away the top two title favorites. And nothing about either player’s performance so far this fortnight has changed that.
Faced with a difficult draw in the fourth round and quarterfinals, Alcaraz has been especially impressive. After getting past Flavio Cobolli, Taro Daniel, and Denis Shapovalov, the 20-year-old destroyed both Lorenzo Musetti and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Only Daniel has managed to take a set off Alcaraz.
Djokovic also dropped only one set on his way to the semis while disposing of Aleksandar Kovacevic, Marton Fucsovics, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Juan Pablo Varillas, and Karen Khachanov. Tuesday’s quarterfinal clash against Khachanov was tense for two sets, as the Russian took the first and pushed the second to a tiebreaker before falling 4-6, 7-6(0), 6-2, 6-4.
The end result is what will be just a second-ever meeting between Alcaraz and Djokovic. They previously faced each other in the semifinals of the 2022 Madrid Masters, where the Spaniard prevailed 6-7(5), 7-5, 7-6(5) on his way to the title.
Friday’s matchup has a chance to be every bit as good. Both players should be confident, as Alcaraz is 35-3 this season and since the Australian Open (which he missed due to injury) has been the best player on tour–including throughout this French Open. Djokovic is obviously a dominant force in Grand Slams, with 22 such titles–including two at Roland Garros.
Of course, Alcaraz won the last major in which he participated (2022 U.S. Open) so it’s hard to say that Djokovic’s experience at the business end of slams will be a real factor on Friday. The bottom line is that the 36-year-old Serb will have to raise his level to match and surpass that of his opponent if he wants to reach the final and ultimately win a record-setting 23rd major title. Djokovic has struggled at times in various matches this fortnight and has often resorted to drop-shots to bail himself out of sticky situations. Drop-shots, of course, are not at all the recipe for success against the best mover on tour in Alcaraz.
If the top seed continues to play like he did against Tsitsipas, he isn’t going to lose in Paris–not even to Djokovic.
Pick: Alcaraz in 4
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WWW?
Ricky is spot on
Could be the thriller of the year….so far….Charlie in 3.
Agree with Ricky. Novak has to raise his game. You would think he will and Alcaraz has,strange dips in concentration when he goes off the boil and makes errors.
But on the form shown in this tournament and the period going into it Alcaraz is playing better.
When it comes to formidable players like Nole and Carlos it’s really hard to make a call. Like look what happened with Medvedev and Rafa at the AO…….no one thought Rafa had a chance…….even Rafa was surprised he got to the final, lol!!!
Me? I’m just hoping for a great match and if Alcaraz wins I would be happy. I would much rather Nole win his 23rd anywhere but at the FO!
agree
Novak 3-2
Nole hasn’t lost a grand slam semi-final in a long while.
I think the trend continues here.
And look at the odds, you don’t often see that kind of value on the Djoker.
I’m with Novak Djokovic on this one, I know he is the underdog can you believe that? What age those to a champion 😔 like Novak but that’s life we all grow old but Djokovic still has some Grand slams to win, I know the French Open slam is not his favorite his probably won it twice or thrice not sure will check later.
If this semi was in the Australian Open or Wimbledon then Novak will definitely defeat Alcaraz, the clay slam makes it hard for Novak to win but I’m still with the champion on this one 💪👍💯 regardless of the result.
Obviously my heart says Novak but my head is confused 😕 if I had to bet on this match I will go with the over games or over 3 sets will likely avoid picking a winner.
I hope Novak wins this ❤
*what age does*
Novak has won Roland Garros twice.
“If this semi was in the 2022 or earlier Australian Open or Wimbledon then Novak will definitely defeat Alcaraz”
Fixed it for you.
Fixed nothing 😁😁😁 Fix yourself first.
No one can take away your right to dream.
Which Alcaraz is going to turn up today?
I know he won the USO but he did it the hard way against far lesser players than Novak.
He didn’t do well in last year’s RG and wimby. I worry a bit about his hyper confidence. He has been playing players with one handed bhs who he can easily slaughter.
It’s going to be very hot today. Doesn’t this favour the younger player? Novak isn’t as fit as he used to be and he doesn’t sometimes like the heat.
Novak really has to step up with his fh.
Alcaraz is akin to 3 year old racehorse that’s been primed for a Group 1 race.
Novak has really turned up today.
Alcaraz looking jumpy. Kind of feared this would happen.
This is only his second sf in a,slam.
It might not get any better, but it’s the first set and jumpiness can calm down. We shall see. Hope it does because it will be a lot more fun.
He will eventually. But the gulf in experience is really showing.
I don’t think it was sensible for him to talk beforehand about being very confident. Just piling the pressure on himself.
The dynamics just changed
The dynamics of the match just changed
The pendulum, the psychology, the pressure.
There’s nothing wrong in Alcaraz saying before the match that’s he’s confident, but he HAS to show up. I believe it was more important for Novak to win first set than Alcaraz!! But let’s c what happens when Carlos settles
Has Djokovic hit an unforced error yet. Hates losing.
Rock solid from Djok and forehand speed has got better, but Al is losing it with his UE count. Needs to settle or the match is lost.
Love the way Al volleys, it looks like a ballet move.
Alcaraz’s serve is the shot which has kept the scoreline close.
Alcaraz is getting a lesson in patience.
Novak’s game and body language not looking the same since the time out
If Carlos can’t serve for the set how is he able to serve for match? 🙈 That’s bad!! Does not bode well at all!! You have just got to serve for it!! Gotta!! Sigh!!
All over. $1M on Alcaraz for the win
Hope you didn’t! Alcarez cramoing and can hardly move.
CRAMPING! even!
One set each. Very tasty indeed. Fabulous tennis from both.
Think it’s going to be very difficult for Novak now. Huge age difference of 16 years surely heavily favours the younger player.
Don’t underestimate Novak though!!! It will take a toll on them BOTH especially if it goes to five!!! And the worse thing is that it takes a toll emotionally so even Alcaraz will be affected if he gets to final.
Winning RG is NOT easy…………Rafa makes it look easy but it’s NOT!!
Think it’s over now Mona. Alcaraz can’t move! Very sad.
What? Y can’t he move?! What’s going on? He’s injured?!
Oh goodness, what an awful shame 🙁
I’m at the office so can’t watch live. Such a shame……the stress on the body……..it’s just not easy!! Hope it’s nothing too serious! 🙏🏽
Not serious, just inadequate hydration. His team really needs to fix this. It’s probably lost him this tournament, but he’s looking slightly improved now.
Ah, thanks Ruby for that!! Well, he won’t win if he’s not in full shape!! Kind of the same thing happened with Zverev! Dehydration can contribute to injury!
Sad way for match to end!!
How do we know it’s a result of dehydration??
Really honestly the commies just called Novak the champion. No he isn’t! Rafa is.I hate Eurosport.
Because dehydration or an electrolyte imbalance is almost always what causes athletic cramping. That’s why you can’t take a Medical Time Out for it — it’s considered the athlete’s fault.
Commies keep saying it’s because of anxiety and tension…
NK just tweeted it’s because of nervous energy and anxiety of big match…was sympathetic..
In rare cases it can be but it doesn’t usually last that long as it has here when it’s down to nerves. Also, he was at his most relaxed (just won the set, was smiling and laughing) when he started to cramp. Not to mention he has repeatedly cramped. They just don’t have his hydration/electrolytes/conditioning right yet. A shame.
Might not consider NK an expert on conditioning lol. But whatever the problem, his team need to figure it out and fix it. Not an enjoyable match and didn’t live up to the hype.
Yeah NK as a fitness expert is somewhat laughable..!😀
In any case, hope that anonymous dude didn’t bet a million dollars.
Doubt he has that dosh!😀
What a damp squib in the end. Man this RG blows!
Neither Ruud or this post injury version of Zverev is going to challenge Novak.
Yet another reminder of how much tennis needs Rafa. Rafa would have been murdering the ball on this high bouncing court and finishing constantly with his fhdtl.
It does blow. And there is no substitute.
Novak wouldn’t have beaten a fit Rafa! Rafa would have controlled the first set and moved Novak around. Alcaraz doesn’t really understand how to do that yet at slam level.
Also the first set and a half Alcaraz was making a lot of errors on ordinary rallying balls. Has a lot to learn still.
That was me sorry.
Agreed. He played sub-par in the first and couldn’t afford to. I’m just more forgiving of coming out nervous in your first Grand Slam SF against Djokovic. The cramping in the heat stuff, though, to me is his team’s fault (and the look on Moya’s face said he knew they blew it.)
Moya? That’s Rafa”s coach 😃
Carlos is till young…….he’ll learn! Imagine Rafa had already won two RGs at that age!! 😝
OMG, lol. That’s what happens when you’re sleep deprived from watching the French Open. Meant JCF of course!
Ruby, I know what u meant!!! Was just teasing!!!
Anyway, next match coming up……..let’s c who is really eager to meet Novak!! I do really like Rudd though……..but not sure who would be a better match up for Novak to make match more interesting……….perhaps Zverev! 🤪😝
Same. Rooting for Ruud. Zverev would seem to make a better final on paper, but not convinced he’s in the form he was in a year ago. Hope it will at least be a good semi!
Al had right call on match.
Paul Annacone on Tennis Channel talking about how experimenting with different electrolytes can fix cramps. They just haven’t figured it out yet (but should have by the SF!)
Yeah, well, like I said………Rafa is the only one that can give a good match here in the final! And Amy, u right!!! RG is not RG without Rafa!!!
However, whenever Novak plays Rafa in final here Novak always looks lost!! He does not like to play Rafa on this court!
Anyway, on to next match! Let’s c who geta the privilege to hold the runner up trophy! 🤣
What two faced bastard he is. Another example of the inherent dishonesty in the world. Great salesman though. Whole family is. One minute he’s doing fist pumps at another persons struggles – next minute he’s talking like a compassionate leader of the people.
I’ve always said that if you believe your own bullshit, people will believe it too.
How many five set matches Spaniard played in hot and humid conditions of USO and he won it without cramping, four or five, no?
Cramping had nothing to do with electrolytes and other BS, it’s simply nervousness and pressure ….and Nole of course.
wafa tards always yapping about wafa. what else is new?
Ricky, a good call against the greatest who ever played the game :thumbsup:
Novak broke Carlitos.
Yes, we have to talk about Rafa bcoz RG is HIS house!!! If it were AO, Noketards would be talking up a storm bcoz they feel AO belongs to Nole and no one else should win it!!! Next year, Rafa is coming back for his crown…….yes, he will!! Vamos!!
yawn. wafa better sort out his pension plan. he is done playing tennis let alone winning slams.
Stunned! I left this morning at the same time this match was starting. I didn’t expect Charlie to have this kind of problem. That is why he has an experienced team looking after him! Charlie and Holger need to address the cramping issue. Foods high in Potassium help. Rafa likes his bananas. The team will figure it out.
This issue will move into a top priority now.
Unbelievably, Novak is going to win another French Open!
The only one to pick Nole in our bracket FTW is Cami 😀
And as a Novak fan, good luck to him. Id have preferred to see Zverev in the final as a better contrast of styles .
Also note that certain fans on here seem to now be accepting Charlie more than a year ago or so ago but that may be to a natural reaction to not seeing Nole win another Slam at RG.
*Not wanting to see
Djokovic barely hit an unforced error. That’s how much he couldn’t handle the thought of losing to Alcaraz and what that might mean to his legacy.
I don’t know if I blame him though!! Could you imagine what the narrative would be if Carlos had beaten Novak?!
Tell me about it; all the scumbags in the world seem to get all the accolades.
Truth is Alcaraz was completely unprepared to play at the level and intensity of the big 3 at a slam.He said before he was very confident because he was thinking it was going to be like playing a masters.
He will know better for next time.
An interesting statistic — showing that Alcaraz came into this particularly inexperienced at Best of 5.
Bo5 matches played by the end of the Grand Slam following their 20th birthday:
Djokovic – 45 (10 Davis Cup)
Nadal – 55 (6 Davis Cup)
Alcaraz – 37
There is a new clay sheriff in town 👉 Novak Djokovic ❤❤❤💪, with Rafa injured N. Djokovic is the king of clay courts he is definitely going to win another Roland Garros on Sunday 🏆.
I knew he would win but didn’t know he would make it look easy especially in the 3rd and 4th set.
Congrats Novak!!!💯
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 enjoy Ure victory my friend!!!
Thanks Monalisa 😘👍
I really enjoy watching Rudd play…..,,,,so calm amd composed…………..and he’s got game too, just needs to work on his serves dem! 😩
Of the 2 players Zverev is more likely to challenge Novak.
Ruud has a terrible record against the very best players.
That’s right Amy, Rafa crushed him in 3 sets last year in the French Open finals and Alcaraz defeated him in US Open finals in 4 sets.
Well that was last year 🤪 he has improved immensely in my view!! At least he’s not getting cramps!
He’s won first set, hopefully he’s closer to the final again!!
Well Amy, he’s gotta start addressing it at some point 🤣
And besides, the way Zverev is serving there, Novak is going to make a meal out of him!! He is yet to hold serve until now!!
Novak has an unparalleled ability to bring his best for the biggest matches and at the most crucial moments. He went into machine mode today, and Carlos admitted that the pressure of the moment got to him and probably contributed to his cramping. But Djokovic has been doing this to others for a long time, particularly at slams.
Let’s hope for a great final; both semis were a bit on the disappointing side.
Nole for his third title here🎊
Rudd will put up a good fight and a couple close sets .