Novak Djokovic made a huge leap towards a record 23rd men’s Grand Slam title with a 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1 French Open semi-final victory against an ailing Carlos Alcaraz.
It was, indeed, a clash of titans that ended in anticlimactic fashion on Friday at the Court Philippe Chatrier, Roland Garros, Paris.
World number one Alcaraz had just levelled the contest when disaster struck as he limped to his bench holding his right leg at 1-1 in the third set.
While he continued playing, the U.S. Open champion was clearly hampered by cramps.
But Djokovic was merciless, dropping only one of 12 games to book a spot for Sunday’s showdown against either last year’s runner-up, Casper Ruud or German Alexander Zverev.
“It’s been really tough for me, honestly. I disappointed myself honestly in a match like this.
“The first set and the second set were really, really intense and I started to cramp in my arm.
“At the beginning of the third set I started to cramp every part of my body, not only the legs. The arms, as well, every part of the legs,” said Alcaraz, who skipped this year’s Australian Open because of a hamstring injury.
Djokovic will play his 34th Grand Slam final, his seventh at Roland Garros, where he lifted the Musketeers’ Cup twice, in 2016 and 2021.
The 36-year-old was facing the ultimate test against Alcaraz, who had bulldozed through the draw, only for the machine to break down in abrupt fashion.
“Tough luck for Carlos. Obviously at this level, the last thing you want is cramps and physical problems in the last stages of a Grand Slam.
“It was probably difficult for him to decide whether he should retire or continue until the last point but he’s a fighter, so respect to him for that,” said Djokovic, who was in his 46th semi-final at a major
