Novak Djokovic was left with no option but to applaud his US Open rival, Carlos Alcaraz, after the Spaniard dismantled the 24-time Grand Slam champion on the court of Arthur Ashe Stadium, securing his place in a third major final in 2025.
The young Spaniard broke Djokovic’s serve in the opening game and held his nerve to clinch the first set 6-4. Djokovic showed grit in the second set, with both players thrilling the crowd with daring net play before engaging in a heart-stopping tiebreaker.
However, the 22-year-old emerged victorious 7-6 (7-4), wearing down the four-time Flushing Meadows champion.
Ahead of the US Open, 38-year-old Djokovic was dogged by injury concerns. Before the decisive third set, he sat shirtless while medical staff attended to issues in his back and shoulder area.
Sensing vulnerability, Alcaraz ramped up the pressure, dissecting Djokovic’s game, including a subtle lob that earned applause from his opponent in the fifth game of Set 3, with the Spaniard already leading 4-1.
It became clear that Djokovic’s depleted energy reserves thwarted any chance of a historic comeback in front of the packed stadium, as Alcaraz secured the game, set and match, 6-2, earning his spot in Sunday’s final against either world No. 1 Jannik Sinner or Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime.
Sinner, the favourite in this showdown, is on the brink of securing his third Grand Slam final appearance this year against Alcaraz, following victories at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2025. However, this championship match holds more significance than merely determining the US Open champion.
The outcome will dictate who secures the No. 1 ranking for the remainder of the ATP season.
Sinner has held the top spot since June 2024, strengthening his position with wins Down Under and in London, despite a three-month doping suspension before competing at Roland-Garros.
A slice of US Open history is also at stake, marking an achievement that would be incredibly challenging to surpass. No male player has ever clinched the US Open without losing a single set.
Alcaraz is just one straight-set final victory away from achieving this extraordinary feat as he continues to carve out his legacy in modern tennis, with only Djokovic remaining from the sport’s previous generation.
Alcaraz claimed his first Grand Slam title in 2022 at this very venue. Now, four titles later, he’s chasing his sixth.
“It feels amazing, it means a lot to me,” he expressed. “Not the best level of the tournament for me but I served well which was important. I tried to play a physical match and I think I did it.”