Novak Djokovic moved one win away from his 23rd Grand Slam singles title with a four-set victory Friday over World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open men’s semifinals.
Djokovic thrived in the 85-degree heat at Roland Garros, while Alcaraz appeared to be slowed by cramping issues, which turned a competitive match into a relatively easy 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 victory for Djokovic.
The turning point may have come early in the third set, when Alcaraz needed to take a break for treatment, forcing him to forfeit the third game because the interruption didn’t come during a changeover.
“I feel for him. I feel sorry. … I hope he can recover very soon,” Djokovic said after the match. “I told him at the net, he knows how young he is. He has plenty of time ahead of him. He’s going to win this tournament, I’m sure, many, many times.”
Despite Djokovic’s dominance, the 20-year-old Alcaraz did hit the shot of the match, possibly the tournament, in the second set when he ranged back to the baseline for a blind return that barely landed in play.
Djokovic, the No. 3 seed, will face Casper Ruud of Norway on Sunday after the No. 4 seed dismantled Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 to reach his second consecutive French Open final.
“Last year against Rafa, this year against Novak, what can you say,” the 24-year old said after his semifnal win. Ruud also made the final of last year’s US Open.
A win in Sunday’s final would give Djokovic, 36, his third French Open crown and 23rd Grand Slam title ‒ breaking a tie with Rafael Nadal for the most men’s Grand Slam singles championships in history.
