Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are set to face each other in the highly anticipated semifinals of the French Open. The clash between these two tennis titans has become the highlight of the tournament, captivating fans worldwide. Both players secured their spots in the semifinals with impressive performances in the quarterfinals.
Djokovic, aiming to break the record for the most Grand Slam men’s singles titles with 23, staged a remarkable comeback against 11th-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov. After dropping the first set, Djokovic displayed his resilience and fought back to claim a 4-6, 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-4 victory. This win marked Djokovic’s 45th career major semifinal, just one shy of Roger Federer’s record.
In another quarterfinal match, top seed Carlos Alcaraz showcased his dominance by defeating fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in a commanding fashion, winning 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (5). Alcaraz, the youngest man to be the top seed at a major since Boris Becker at the 1987 Wimbledon, solidified his position as the favorite for the upcoming showdown.
Alcaraz expressed his eagerness for the match, stating, “This match, everyone wants to watch. I really wanted to play this match as well. I always say that if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.”
The Djokovic-Alcaraz semifinal is expected to determine the clear favorite for the final, as Rafael Nadal, the left-handed 14-time French Open champion, withdrew from this year’s tournament due to a hip injury, and No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev was eliminated in the first round. Djokovic and Nadal currently share the record for the most men’s major titles, with 22 each.
Djokovic and Alcaraz have met once before, with Alcaraz emerging victorious on clay in Madrid last year, defeating Djokovic 6-7 (5), 7-5, 7-6 (5). Djokovic praised Alcaraz’s intensity on the court, drawing comparisons to another left-handed player from Alcaraz’s country, Spain.
Interestingly, Djokovic and Alcaraz were originally drawn to be in opposite halves of the tournament, potentially meeting only in the final. However, a change in rankings resulted in Djokovic having a 50 percent chance of landing in Alcaraz’s half, which ultimately happened through the random draw.
In the women’s quarterfinals, No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka and 43rd-ranked Karolina Muchova secured their spots in the semifinals. Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, defeated Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-4, while Muchova eliminated 2021 French Open runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova with a 7-5, 6-2 victory.
With the stage set for thrilling semifinal matchups, tennis fans eagerly await the Djokovic-Alcaraz clash and the battles in the women’s draw. The French Open continues to deliver exhilarating tennis and captivating storylines as players vie for the coveted titles.