A nice legal battle until everything is blown. Terrible ending. Third set, second game and on his attempt to pull away, Carlos Alcaraz is hanging in the air, pulling the shortening to hit a forehand and falling feeling like it’s broken. The semifinals end there. The action goes on, but the party is dead. He doesn’t give up his Spanish, but everything has been said. Misfortune again, misfortune. The Physicist and Carlitos. Cramps from top to bottom. Calf hurts, quadriceps, groin. His soul hurts. The Roland Garros he wanted so badly is gone and Novak Djokovic – “I’m very sorry for him, he’s an incredible competitor; he will win this tournament many times” – he ends up in his seventh final in Paris, the 34th of a Grand Slam: 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 and 6-1, after 2 hours and 23 minutes. The Serb is just one step away from his twenty-third big win and reclaiming the world throne; Only the Norwegian Casper Ruud, who is superior to Alexander Zverev (6: 3, 6: 4 and 6: 0) and who was handed the revalidation after the defeat against Nadal a year ago, can prevent it.
Bad taste in the mouth in the Bois de Boulogne on a muggy Friday. He is a child. “It can’t be,” the Murcian complains when the dream ends. “It can’t be, man,” says the number one to his coach. “It’s not just here, it’s here and here and here,” he told the physical therapist. “I’ll give myself a chance …” he says to the referee Aurélie Tourte, who, in an almost maternal attitude, points out that if he stops developing, and that later when the Da der Young (20 years old) has already been treated, he decides exclusively. Alcaraz follows, but this attack on Paris ends and the old order (for now) prevails. Another accident. In January it was the stomach (before the trip to Australia); in March (in Rio de Janeiro) a leg; Last year there was another mishap at the core (November, Paris-Bercy) and now the body (punished by tension) slows him down again at a delicate moment when he had managed to complete an episode of maximum demands with the veteran totem of to balance the Balkans, 16 years older.
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Before everything explodes, HQ smells like a great day and Djokovic, knowing everything, brings a tuxedo to the party and is dressed in his best clothes. The Serb is definitely coming out of the hole. It’s Nole (36 years old) in all his expression, the imperial Serb, the wonderful, the dominant; excellent in every single one of his shots. Masterful in interpretation. He’s pacing, changing elevation, arching the shot to prevent the dude from comfortably punching, and repeatedly firing backhands unashamedly. There’s the key, he thinks. Not because the man from Alcaraz hesitates there in any way, but because he doesn’t remotely want the man in front of him to have even the slightest opportunity to exercise his right to go for a walk, that hideous drive that does that on that occasion , during the first, section, does lose presence.
Alcaraz was limping at the time of the accident. Jean-Francois Badias (AP / LAPRESSE)
The Spaniard starts with three penalties, which is rare. His first open drop goes into the corridor, and the second is guessed by Djokovic, who had been rehearsing for half an hour the day before how to try and break off this resource. They are measured in the network, and that in Belgrade will be immense, without leaving a single gap. “I-de-mo, I-de-mo, I-de-mo!” “Come on, come on, come on!” His compatriots wrap him up from the stands. Djokovic’s backhand sections always find the end result from both profiles and implement his plan. He shifts into one gear or another as suits him and Alcaraz begins to lose himself in this mental labyrinth into which so many have fallen. Go to the swamp. Djokovic started this match from day one in Paris disguised as a little lamb.
Before that, an anthological back cover
One should not underestimate either its category or its reliability. The bite is huge the first time. It breaks and grows. Doubts, doubts and more doubts until the semi-finals, but in the moment of truth he resizes himself, floating through the chatrier, closing doors – five break options were annulled in the first five attempts available to the Murcian – and embroils that Duel of the pies that interests you. He bounces the ball a thousand times, going on endlessly with each serve and slowing down as the wind blows and the dust gets in his eyes. Djokovic, the strategist. The chef. Angle the pen and spray cheat game. And Alcaraz, who had been sailing in calm waters up until this point in the tournament, is beginning to express his nervousness. He’s tense, he’s suffering.
The Serb celebrates his victory over Alcaraz. EMMANUEL DUNAND (AFP)
Djokovic and Alcaraz greet each other at the end of the game. JULIEN DE ROSA (AFP)
The tennis player from Murcia greets the crowd after the game. CLODAGH KILCOYNE (Portal)
Carlos Alcaraz after injuring himself against Novak Djokovic in the Roland Garros semifinals. Jean-Francois Badias (AP / LAPRESSE)
Alcaraz is joined by Djokovic after feeling discomfort in his leg. MOHAMMED BADRA (EFE)
Alcaraz is being looked after by a doctor after experiencing discomfort in his leg. Julian Finney (Getty Images)
Alcaraz is about to hit the ball for a serve.KAI PFAFFENBACH (Portal)
The Serb wipes the sweat from his forehead with his shirt. EMMANUEL DUNAND (AFP)
The Spanish tennis player, during a match in the semifinals against the Serbian. CAROLINE BLUMBERG (EFE)
Shadow of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic, during a semifinal match at the Court Philippe Chatrier track in Paris.KAI PFAFFENBACH (Portal)
Djokovic is treated by the physio after feeling discomfort in his right arm. CLIVE MASON (Getty Images)
Alcaraz runs after the ball thrown by Djokovic. Thibault Camus (Associated Press / LaPresse)
A woman photographs the semi-final match between Alcaraz and Djokovic from the stands.CLODAGH KILCOYNE (Portal)
Alcaraz reacts after winning the eighth game of the second “set” against Serbian Djokovic. Jean-Francois Badias (AP / LAPRESSE)
Serbian Djokovic, during a match against Alcaraz. CLODAGH KILCOYNE (Portal)
Spectators follow Novak Djokovic’s serve. YOAN VALAT (EFE)
Alcaraz returns the ball to Djokovic. CLIVE MASON (Getty Images)
Alcaraz dries his mouth with his bracelet during the game. EMMANUEL DUNAND (AFP)
Serbian Djokovic serves Alcaraz in the semifinals. MOHAMMED BADRA (EFE)
The Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz scores in the third game of the second “set” with his back to the Serbs. Jean-Francois Badias (Associated Press/LaPresse)
Djokovic before hitting the ball against Alcaraz. YOAN VALAT (EFE)
Former world boxing champion Mike Tyson, second from right, watches the semifinal match from the box.Jean-Francois Badias (Associated Press/LaPresse)
Alcaraz screams after winning second set against Djokovic. Associated Press/LaPresse Jean-Francois Badias (APS)
Murcia’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates a point against the Serb. JULIEN DE ROSA (AFP)
Djokovic, during a play at the Court Philippe Chatrier track in Paris.KAI PFAFFENBACH (Portal)
The Serb looks dejected in the Roland Garros semifinals. CLIVE MASON (Getty Images)
Alcaraz screams after missing an opportunity to break Djokovic’s serve.Thibault Camus (AP)
General view of the court with tennis players Carlos Alcaraz (left) and Novak Djokovic. Julian Finney (Getty Images)
Djokovic returns the ball to the Murcians. EMMANUEL DUNAND (AFP)
Alcaraz follows the trajectory of the ball. Associated Press/LaPresse Jean-Francois Badias (APS)
Alcaraz, during a match against the Serbian tennis player. JULIEN DE ROSA (AFP)
Djokovic prepares to hit the ball in front of Alcaraz in the semifinals.Christophe Ena (Associated Press / LaPresse)
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic prepares to serve. The ball boys on the left.KAI PFAFFENBACH (Portal)
Alcaraz (left) and Djokovic pose for photographers at the start of the game. CLIVE MASON (Getty Images)
Carlos Alcaraz (left) and Novak Djokovic warm up before the start of the semifinals. LISI NIESNER (Portal)
Carlos Alcaraz greets the crowd upon arrival at the track. YOAN VALAT (EFE)
Fans from Spain and Serbia pose with their respective flags just before the start of the semi-final between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic this Friday.KAI PFAFFENBACH (Portal)
The sentence is more than revealing. First the tennis player screams, but then the boy he adores screams. He can’t hold back. “There wasn’t a single point over more than five strokes, I have to change that!” He goes to his bench. “Will I beat Djokovic to the first stroke? No!” he turns to his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. He parries the first set ball, but gives way in the end. In any case, Carlitos has the survival instinct that distinguishes the best. He doesn’t give up, he fights, he invests in everyone he can to socialize, and he rebels. there is a party He expresses himself with another of his genius, another maneuver to remember; This one, straight to the Louvre. It’s a bird? It’s an airplane? No, it’s Carlitos, the sprinter with two legs like rockets. He emulates the genius Federer – 27 years ago, in 2006, against Argentinian David Nalbandian – by running back and inventing a huge violent flat millimeter reverse.
partisan reaction
The partisan anthem sounds, the Bella Ciao, which coincides with the reaction. “Come on machine, get him!” they encourage him. Car-los, car-los, car-los!” announced the headquarters. Eventually he scratches the break but Djokovic returns it, indestructible; The Serb raised to 0:40 and immediately missed a chance to 6:5, a setback that falls too close to the corridor. Here comes Carlos. She’s 20 years old, but she already knows a few tricks and draws the crowd to her side by shouting at her and standing up. He doesn’t seem to get tired while racing from here to there. Well, have fun. It snaps back into place, set the same. And Nole, who had previously called for medical attention to have a massage on his forearm injured by the bat’s heavy impact to deflect the cannon fire, goes into the dressing room. You have to think, look in the mirror. The sleeve was defined in nuances, but suspect a possible avalanche. It will never be known.
On the way back there is an accident and with it a turbulent semi-final. The script is torn to pieces, there is no common thread and an uncertain scenario. Not even Alcaraz himself knows exactly what’s happening to him, he’s upset about the incident and completely crippled. One leg is touched, the other too; one knee, the other; He looks at his box, bewildered, pain, a distorted face. They treat him in the locker room and he keeps going but nothing makes sense anymore and the game isn’t a game. Nevertheless, Nole howls, clenches his fist at every point and celebrates furiously. Distrust from start to finish. A few whistles sound, but he walks away to applause. He’s in his seventh final, just a coup de grace away from his twenty-third major and a record-breaking record. One man’s misfortune is another man’s glory.
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